Dalrymple shows no mercy

Jamie Dalrymple gets in some net practice © Getty Images

England are aiming to adopt a ruthless approach to Friday’s warm-up match with Australia as they attempt to further disrupt the world champions’ preparations for the World Cup.

Australia’s bid to become the first side in history to win three successive World Cups has been disrupted by their shock defeat to England in the Commonwealth Bank series finals and a 3-0 whitewash in New Zealand.

But despite Friday’s warm-up match at Arnos Vale being billed as nothing more than a practice match, with both sides again being able to use 13 players, England are determined to compound Australia’s problems.

Having completed a satisfying 241-run triumph over World Cup minnows Bermuda, England have firmly set their sights on the bigger scalp of Australia as both sides build up for the start of the tournament.

Off-spinning all-rounder Jamie Dalrymple, who hit 76 off 79 balls against Bermuda, stressed: “Against Australia it doesn’t matter as much in some sense and it is more about individuals getting something out of the game.

“But it would be fantastic to keep the momentum going - we want to be ruthless, try and beat them again and go forward like that.

Dalrymple is aiming to keep up the pressure on Australia in the World Cup © Getty Images

“I’m expecting a very intense game. They certainly will be looking to put one over us after what happened down under and we would be very keen to keep them where they are.”

As if the two sides are not familiar enough with each other, they have also been placed in adjoining hotels in St Vincent, which share the same beach.

The thoughts of both sides will no doubt have drifted back to the last time they met on a cricket field when Dalrymple played a key role in England’s second Commonwealth Bank series final success in Sydney by taking a brilliant diving catch at backward point to dismiss Shane Watson.

This time the stakes are not quite as high and there is unlikely to be the same level of intensity, although interest in the encounter is such that the government have declared a national holiday on Friday to mark the occasion.

“No one is kidding anyone and it’s not a full one-day international with 50,000 people in the stands with a World Cup at stake but at the same time there are some important things going on for individuals out there,” explained Dalrymple.

“Momentum is a wonderful thing and we’ll be looking to keep hold of ours. I wouldn’t go so far as saying we’ve got the wood on them, but a number of us have experienced beating them for the first time and it’s quite enjoyable.

“When you see their team and players who have enjoyed success for a long period of time, it’s good to put them on the back foot for change.”

Facing Bermuda is probably not the best preparation for playing an Australia side still smarting from their winter disappointments and no one in England’s camp is getting too carried away at the ease in which they dismissed them for 45.

Dwayne Leverock was Bermuda's offspinning destroyer © Getty Images

But it was still a useful workout for many of England’s players, notably those who were returning from recent injuries including captain Michael Vaughan, Kevin Pietersen, Jon Lewis and James Anderson.

“The job against Bermuda was to be as ruthless as possible and I thought we performed well - it was a very clinical performance,” said Dalrymple.

“Sure, they gave away a few wickets but it gives us something to build upon on Friday when we know it will be a sterner test.

“Ruthless is a word I like in one-day cricket. We’ve seen plenty of games like that which teams can just bat out without being in the game and I thought it was really good that we did stay on top of them and come very hard at them.”

The only possible disappointment for Dalrymple during that opening warm-up victory was the speed of Bermuda’s demise, which prevented Dalrymple from having a bowl.

But if the performance of heavyweight left-arm spinner Dwayne Leverock, whose 19-stone frame did not prevent him claiming 2-32 in his 10 overs, is any guide spin could be an important weapon during the tournament.

“I hope spin will play a big part in the World Cup because obviously I bowl it myself,” added Dalrymple.

“I always like to try and be involved as much as I can and I’d like to do that out here. I bowled a lot during the summer and I’ve worked quite hard in the gap between Australia and coming out here - the key is that when I do get a chance I make sure I stand up.”