Anderson out to complete CV

An optimist, they say, describes the glass as half-full. A pessimist describes it as half empty. And a regular supporter of England at World Cups expects the glass to fragment, explode and kill everyone in the near vicinity.

It is an understandable mindset. There have been so many disappointments, so many humiliations since the last time England reached a World Cup final in 1992. There was the Ireland defeat in 2011, the failure to beat a Full Member in 1996 or 2007 and, perhaps most painful of all, being knocked out of the 1999 tournament they hosted before the competition's theme song was released. It is not surprising that so little is expected of them.

One man who has experienced more than his share of such disappointment is James Anderson. He is about to enter his fourth - and quite possibly final - World Cup campaign with the lack of success in the tournament the major stain on an otherwise highly creditable record.

The 2011 World Cup was particularly grim. Going into it with a reputation as one of the best seamers in the business, Anderson claimed only four wickets - and only one in new ball spells - and conceded 6.55 runs per over. That made him England's 11th most economical bowler in the tournament and left England the least incisive new ball attack of the major teams.

There were extenuating circumstances. England's focus, in the months before the tournament, was more towards the Ashes and the strain - mental as much as physical - of winning the 2010-11 series took its toll. The Indian pitches did little to help, either, in a tournament dominated by slow bowlers, but it was a significant dip in a fine career.

But this time Anderson goes into the event refreshed and in fine form. The Ashes tour pattern was altered specifically to reduce the burden on players involved in all formats and Anderson was also rested from the Sri Lanka tour before Christmas to resolve a minor knee injury.

His limited-overs form over the last couple of years is exceptional. Only Mohammad Irfan and Nuwan Kulasekara have taken more wickets in the first 10 overs of ODIs since January 2013 and both have delivered substantially more overs. Capable of swinging the ball both ways, he represents England's best chance of damaging opposition in that new ball spell and England may well need him to strike early - and often - if they are to defeat Australia. Survive his initial spell - nearly always six overs - and opposing batsmen know that lesser bowlers await.

England's problem is that, with Anderson returning to deliver two more overs in the batting Powerplay, he is likely to bowl no more than two in the final 10. England currently concede an eye-watering eight-an-over in the last 10; a factor which may well undermine their chances in this tournament. None of the favourites concede anywhere near as many.

It is not certain that this is Anderson's World Cup finale. While he will be 36 by the time the next World Cup comes round, the fact that it is to be played in England might encourage him. And as recent months have shown us, England are no closer to finding a successor to him. But four years is a long time for a fast bowler and Anderson knows this could well be his last chance.

Admitting that the last few World Cups "have been very unsuccessful from our point of view", Anderson is adamant that there is a different spirit in the fresh looking squad this time.

"There's a real genuine belief that we can surprise a few teams," he said. "We feel confident that we can beat anyone if we have our day. In a tournament like this we know it's all about qualifying for the quarter-finals and then you're three games away from winning the World Cup."

Anderson made his England debut at the MCG. Then, in December 2002, he admits that "the abuse was a bit of a shock" and, on a day during which an aeroplane circled the ground with a banner deriding the team - a repeat of the "Missing: pair of balls. If found, please return to the England cricket team" slogan that has been doing the rounds in recent days - he knows there will be no let up.

But while other England sides have been cowed by such antics, he is confident that the current squad can revel in the attention. "I know now you've got to enjoy occasions like this," he said. "To play at the MCG in front of a full house against Australia in a World Cup is something every player dreams of and I'm so excited. I can't wait.

"As a cricketer you want to play in games like this, you want to play in front of big crowds and show off your skill and talent in front of them.

"We're guessing the majority will be against us and that's something we're prepared for. But we've played here in a Test in front of 90-odd thousand on Boxing Day and if we start well we know we can quieten most of them. It's all about starting well and enjoying the occasion. It's something we've got to try and soak up and really enjoy."

The final training session before the match was noticeable for two things. One was the long net enjoyed by Gary Ballance and the relatively peripheral role played by Ravi Bopara - perhaps a sign of England's change of heart towards their team selection - and the other was the inclusion of Jack Shantry, the Worcestershire left-arm medium-pacer, as a net bowler. It gave England practice against the left-arm angle of attack, if not quite at Mitchell Johnson's pace.