England's Paul Collingwood poses for photographs during a World Cup news conference in Rodney Bay, St. Lucia, yesterday. - Reuters

GROS ISLET, St. Lucia (AP):

THE DRUNKEN escapades of six England players has brought the squad closer together and itching to play cricket in the must-win World Cup match against Kenya tomorrow.

"It's all about cricket from now on and we go into it with a lot of confidence that we can do it," England all-rounder Paul Collingwood said. "You learn from your mistakes and something like that can pull a side together.

"Certainly, that is the case with the way the guys have responded with a lot of hard work and effort being put in."

Damage control

England spent three days in damage control after all-rounder Andrew Flintoff tried taking solace in the drink after the opening six-wicket defeat to New Zealand.

After a long drinking session, he reportedly ended up capsizing a small paddle boat in the ocean at 4:00 a.m. and had to be hauled in by hotel staff.

He was suspended for Sunday's 51-run win over Canada and after a series of public apologies, has kept a low profile in the lead-up to tomorrow's final group game against Kenya.

Fast bowlers James Anderson, Liam Plunkett and Jon Lewis, wicketkeeper Paul Nixon, batsman Ian Bell and two team support staff were also fined for staying out late drinking on Friday.

Victory over Kenya will ensure England progresses to the second round for the first time since 1996.

Surprise semi-finalist

Kenya, a surprise semi-finalist in 2003, are also 1-1 but have a lower run-rate than England, and that is the tiebreaker if the teams finish level behind New Zealand. That could only happen if tomorrow's match ended in a tie or a washout.

Kenya is "a potential banana skin, but we have to try to put that out of our minds," Collingwood said. "Once you start thinking like that it can cause you trouble.

"We're looking forward to it. It's a must-win game and we've done as much preparation as possible off the pitch ... so on Saturday when we face the first ball we know exactly what to do."