London – England captain Alastair Cook believes his team could be on the verge of a period of sustained dominance which would peak with a World Cup triumph in two years.
Cook is confident England's recent lacklustre displays in the drawn Test series against New Zealand were just a blip that will soon be forgotten as they head into a frenetic programme over the next few months.
England play New Zealand in a Test series rematch then host the limited overs Champions Trophy and the Ashes Test series before heading to Australia for a second Ashes campaign.
Cook's men will be back in Australia and New Zealand for the 2015 World Cup and the opening batsman is convinced a good run over the next year can be the catalyst for England to win the tournament for the first time.
“We haven't won an ICC 50-over event so that is certainly a priority,” Cook said on Friday.
“We've got the tournament here in our home conditions which we hope to make the most of and then in two years' time there is the World Cup. We haven't won that either.
“They are two big tournaments coming up and we have certainly got the team, if we keep developing, to have a chance of winning them.”
The Champions Trophy begins on June 6 and England play in Group A against Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka.
But before that Cook wants England to make amends for their tame showing in New Zealand.
“We knew how tough it would be,” said Cook. “New Zealand have got some really good young players who we will hear a lot more about in the future.
“The bottom line is we did not play as well as we could have done and if you do that in any international team you don't deserve to win.”
Regardless of his team's result against New Zealand, Cook refuses to accept England will start as firm favourites when Australia arrive for the Ashes after being hammered 4-0 in India recently.
“We're the first England team to play back-to-back Ashes series so close together so the potential and the opportunity to do something very special is there,” Cook said.
“I wouldn't read too much into what happened in India with Australia. The conditions were very different to what we are going to experience in England.
“They are going to be a very tough side to beat. They have got some world-class players. The Ashes is a unique event so hopefully it will bring the best out of both sides.
“The favourites stuff is all off the field. You can read all you want about that sort of stuff but it is irrelevant.” – Sapa-AFP