England take gamble on Kevin Pietersen

England are confident they have at last hit on the right opening partnership for the World Cup - in the nick of time, and after years of trial and error.

Kevin Pietersen's promotion to join his captain Andrew Strauss at the top of the order is a bold call but one coach Andy Flower expects to fit the bill in the sub-continent.

England's 21st one-day international opening pair since the start of the last World Cup have so far faced the new ball twice together, in warm-up victories over Canada and Pakistan in Bangladesh.

Pietersen, for so long a fixture at No 4, has lasted longer than his captain both times, making 24 and then top-scoring with 66, to Strauss' two single-figure failures. They will open for the first time in a meaningful game when England start their World Cup campaign in earnest against Holland in Nagpur tomorrow.

Flower does not mind admitting previous pairings have not worked consistently, but believes England's new order will play to the strengths of not just Pietersen but wicketkeeper Matt Prior, a recent incumbent at the top, who has dropped to No 6.

"We've had a number of opening combinations in the recent past, but we believe, in these conditions, Pietersen opening with Strauss will give us the best chance of winning," he said. Flower acknowledges the late change of plan is unusual at the start of such an important tournament. "It's not perfect, but our one-day international batting order is not as settled as it is in Test cricket because our opening combinations have not been overly successful."

Below Strauss and Pietersen come a succession of natural accumulators, although, in their different styles, Paul Collingwood and Ian Bell have the ability to clear the ropes and Prior's adaptability is another reason the coach thinks England have hit on a winner.

"Part of the reason we've made that change is because of his skill against spin," Flower said of Prior, who made more than 100 runs in his two warm-up innings. "He will be quite an important factor in the middle to later overs of the game. He plays spin well and reverse-swing well, so it was nice to see him get off to a good start."

Pietersen still averages more than 40 in ODIs yet has managed only one half-century in his last 23 innings in the middle order.

Flower has faith that the promotion will be significant fresh motivation for one of England's most talented batsmen and he is sure Pietersen will be up to the task. "That would be a nice result if he's reinvigorated by the challenge ahead of him," he said. "It's a serious challenge, because opening the batting in this form of the game in the sub-continent carries a lot of responsibility."

England's new opening pair are far from the only point of tactical discussion as they bid to win this competition for the first time.Main spinner Graeme Swann joined the squad yesterday, having stayed in England for the birth of his first child, but he may not play against the Dutch, if England will instead stick with Mike Yardy or, as befits sub-continental conditions, will pick two spinners and include Swann.

As for those first World Cup opponents, few, certainly not Flower, will need any reminding that Holland cannot be taken lightly, following their shock victory over England at Lord's in their last meeting at the start of the 2009 ICC World Twenty20.

"It was actually a great match. They deserved to win," said Flower.