Joe Root is certain that captain Eoin Morgan will lead from the front when England begin their World Cup campaign against Australia on Saturday.

Morgan will head into that blockbuster clash struggling to score a run after he again made a duck in a four-wicket warm-up defeat to Pakistan in Sydney yesterday.

The left-hander fell in bizarre fashion too, scooping a Yasir Shah full toss to slip, and now has a miserable return of 0, 2, 0, 0 from his last four innings — including consecutive first-ball ducks against Australia.

His century against Australia in the tri-series opener will, however, ensure Morgan is not too panicked just yet and Root is confident that in the heat of battle — starting in front of a 90,000-strong MCG sell-out on Valentine’s Day — that his captain will raise his game.

“Morgs is one of the guys that under the pump, when the pressure is on, he’s someone you turn to,” Root said.

“He’s done it so many times for us and I’m sure throughout this competition he’s going to score a lot of runs.

“Everyone in the dressing room is absolutely convinced that’s going to be the case.”

Asked if there was any reason to be concerned by Morgan’s form, he added: “Not really. He scored a hundred not long ago.

“He’s obviously a fine player, he’s a fine leader.

“There’s no bigger stage than Saturday. I’m sure he is, as much as anyone in the squad, really looking forward to getting out there and putting on a show.”

Root admits that, after all the preparation of the past month, the England players are chomping at the bit to kick off the World Cup against their fiercest rivals.

“We’re ready now. We’re fed up of waiting around,” he said.