Odishatv Bureau
Chennai: England batsman Jonathan Trott on Tuesday admitted that the players are far from being "fresh" in the World Cup due to hectic schedule in the past five months but said it was "foolish" talking about it as they are facing a do or die situation in the tournament.

Nothing less than a win against West Indies here on Thursday will ensure England a quarterfinal berth and Trott said the focus of the team is on the match and not on what had happened in the past.

"Not being fresh, but you got to realise where we are and what we are trying to do in the World Cup. Millions of people back home and around the world are willing to give anything to see us out of the position that we are," Trott said when asked if the players are being able to keep themselves fresh for the matches.

"We got four games left for us before the winter.

Whatever has happened in the past and the amount of cricket that we have played, we got few days of it now. We are in Chennai, which is quite humid and hot. It will be foolish to look too far ahead and look back as to how much cricket we have played," he said after his team`s practice session.

"Not much we can do (about the schedule). But all our attention is on this game and it would be foolish that if we take our eyes off this game. It is four knock out games for us and three for others," he added.

Captain Andrew Strauss and Graeme Swann did not take part in the practice session today due to fever for the past two days but Trott said they are recovering fast and should be fit for the must-win West Indies match.

"They (Strauss and Swann) will be all right. There is 24 to 48 hours for them (to be fully fit). Hopefully, they will train tomorrow. Two days of fever, they are feeling a little bit better. They should be ready for the game. Chennai is hot and humid. When you go from humid places into air conditioned change rooms, just a little bit about not looking after ourselves," he said.

"I am not sure who are favourites (in that match), hope it is a good game lasting 100 overs. I think, we have not got a good 100 over match, on both sides, one with bat or with ball. Here in Chennai against South Africa not with the bat but with ball," he said in reference to the inconsistent performance of the English side.

He admitted the team is not firing as a unit in the World Cup after doing so well in the Ashes.

"We do have good one-day team as well. Perhaps we need to get a bit more consistent in fielding, running and batting. I think the Ashes being the big thing and winning it after putting in a lot of efforts we could not collectively do that in World Cup," he said.

Asked about his slow scoring rate against Bangladesh against whom England suffered a humiliating loss, Trott said, "People are entitled to their judgement. I am not affected by that. To me what Andy Flower says is more important.

"My role entails getting as many runs as I can for the team, close to run a ball if situations and conditions allow, weigh the conditions and consolidate according to situations.

It is about playing to the conditions and in the best interest of the team.

"It is dangerous for batsmen to go after the ball always during powerplays. Perhaps you could do it on flat wickets like in Bangalore. In tricky wickets which have some turn it is difficult but with the seamers you could perhaps adjust to the speed and still give hard time for the batsmen. One need to play it on the ground finding gaps for runs," he said.

On whether 2011 World Cup has been a good advertisement of cricket as there were few upset wins after easy matches for some teams, he said, "I think so. All the matches we played may not have been good cricket on our part, but very good for spectators surely."

Asked if he thinks he has to still improve having played in 30 one-day matches and having a decent average, Trott said, "I feel okay. As a cricketer, it is important to learn over time and not stand still.

"I think it is important to get better in everything, fielding, batting and bowling. We have Andy Flower and Andrew Strauss, the two driven individuals with great visions for the team and I think if you stand still you get behind. All eleven players have to constantly improve."

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