Attack can adapt to provide World Cup glory

Despite having never won the trophy, England are one of the favourites for the tournament, which starts in the sub-continent next month, following their recent meteoric improvement in the limited overs game.

England have won their past six one-day series and are the World Twenty20 champions following their success last May.

Much of their improvement has been attributed to a settled bowling attack under the guidance of Saker.

The Australian took over as bowling coach just before the World Twenty20 and has helped develop a cohesive unit of pace and spin.

James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Yorkshire's Tim Bresnan have become a trusted front-line combination while spinners Graeme Swann and Michael Yardy have established themselves as the men to tie down the rate, and take wickets, in the middle overs.

With a queue of possible replacements such as Yorkshire's Ajmal Shahzad, Chris Woakes and Ashes winner Chris Tremlett, England will go into the tournament with arguably one of the strongest bowling units.

"I'm confident the attack we are going to take over there is good enough to give it a shake," said Saker. "In India, the bowlers will have to be able to execute skills, especially slower balls and yorkers.

That's pretty important to the way we go about it so if they can execute those skills then we feel we have a chance to go places."

Without the injured Broad and rested Anderson, England's second-string seam bowlers did, however, struggle in the first one-day international in Melbourne on Sunday as Australia chased down 295 for victory.

Shane Watson's unbeaten 161 inspired the Australian push on a slow MCG pitch which mirrored the conditions England can expect on the sub-continent.

Saker, 44, said it was an important lesson for his bowlers but believes they have shown their ability to adapt to new conditions in the past.

Series wins in South Africa, Bangladesh and the Twenty20 success in the Caribbean have underlined their ability to win on different surfaces, and Saker added: "We've come up with good plans every time we play. We make sure we have a good look at the players we're playing and the wicket we're playing on and pick a team accordingly.

"It will be different (in India) there's no doubt about it. We will have to adapt."

Tomorrow: Chris Waters gives his verdict on England's World Cup squad announced today.