England, it can politely be said, have taken the scenic route to the Super Eights. If there has been a common feature to their four fixtures in the opening round, it is that they have looked fallible and flawed on every occasion. Yet Sri Lanka offers the chance to start afresh. England benefit from their pre-tournament seeding, and will take their place in the ostensibly less challenging Super Eight pool, where they are likely to meet the co-hosts, Pakistan and New Zealand. The hope remains that, just as in 2022, England can overcome a tumultuous start to win the World Cup. But if England are to mount any sustained challenge, they will need to locate a verve and versatility that has been absent in India. When England won the 2022 T20 World Cup, their surge was underpinned by a series of brilliant opening partnerships, including the extraordinary 170 shared by Jos Buttler and Alex Hales against India in the semi-final. But in four matches so far this competition, Buttler and Phil Salt have only scored …