Strauss will step down as England's one-day captain at the end of the World Cup

England are facing the prospect that captain Andrew Strauss's record-breaking appearance in their vital World Cup match against West Indies this week will be his last one-day international - and that, win, lose or tie, he will quit that form of cricket at the end of the tournament, possibly along with Kevin Pietersen.

After defeat by Bangladesh in Chittagong on Friday, the latest twist in their cliffhanger of a World Cup campaign that has included defeat by Ireland, narrow success against the Dutch, a tie against India and a stirring win over South Africa, England will almost certainly need to beat West Indies in their final Group B match in Chennai on Thursday to reach the quarter-finals.

Roller coaster: England's World Cup campaign has included defeat by Ireland, narrow success against the Dutch, a tie against India and a stirring win over South Africa

But signs are growing that even if they do so, Strauss, 31, will quit ODIs as soon as their involvement in the tournament is over.

That would mean that his 61st match as England's one-day captain, overtaking Michael Vaughan as the man to lead them most often in ODIs, could be his last.

COLLY CALL TO ARMS

Paul Collingwood has issued a rallying cry to urge his team-mates to forget tiredness and concentrate on the fact that they are four wins away from winning the World Cup. 

'It would take something of a miracle for me to be involved in 2015 so this is it for me,' said Collingwood, 34. 

'Losing to Bangladesh was disappointing but we cannot use tiredness as a crutch. We have to focus on the fact that four wins will give us the trophy and we've beaten all the sides we're likely to play.'

Strauss is apparently determined to carry on as captain of the Test side. Victory in the Ashes boosted his enthusiasm for the job and his ambition to take his players to the No 1 world ranking. Other results permitting, that could even be achieved within the year if England beat Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan in upcoming Test series.

But, bearing in mind Strauss will be almost 35 by the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, the selectors are preparing to bring Alastair Cook into the team and name him as successor should the Middlesex man consider the best course of action is to concentrate on Test cricket.

Significantly, Strauss puts some of his form and most of his ability to lead England to successive Test series wins against Bangladesh, Pakistan and Australia, sometimes in trying circumstances, down to the fact that he took a complete break from mid-January to late May last year, spending part of the time with his wife and family in her native Australia.

Many criticised Strauss for taking time off, believing it might rebound on him if the going got tough Down Under but, in his absence, Cook led England to Test and ODI series wins in Bangladesh before Paul Collingwood lifted the World Twenty20 in May 2010 and the transition back to Strauss's leadership was seamless.

In the swing: Record as opening batsman since taking over the captaincy in both forms of the game has been excellent

Chief selector Geoff Miller and his colleagues are already on red alert over the ODI future of Pietersen, now 40th in the world rankings and rumoured to be intent on quitting 50-over cricket, despite tweets to the contrary.

As for a replacement as skipper and opening bat, the selectors are comfortable that Cook is able and ready to do the job in one-day cricket.

HOW DO ENGLAND MAKE LAST EIGHT?

England need to finish in the top four.

They will do that if:

England beat West Indies and Bangladesh lose one of their last
two games

England and India beat West Indies

England beat West Indies and South Africa lose to Ireland and Bangladesh

Bangladesh lose both of their last two matches and Ireland fail to win 

Strauss has felt this way before. After playing his 78th ODI in England's final match of the 2007 World Cup against West Indies in the Caribbean, Duncan Fletcher's last match in charge, he was swept away by the broom of new coach Peter Moores.

Strauss returned in April 2009, having been appointed full-time captain of the Test and one-day side following Moores' removal in favour of Andy Flower.

Since then the 'two Andys' have forged a relationship that has underpinned England's resurgence in all forms, including Ashes wins home and away. While Strauss was not considered for the 2010 World T20, he was credited with some of the ideas that helped them win their first-ever global trophy.

Apart from joining Len Hutton and Mike Brearley as only the third England Test captain to win the Ashes at home and in Australia, his record as opening batsman since taking over the captaincy in both forms of the game has been excellent.

In ODIs, Strauss has scored 1,930 runs at 41.9 with four hundreds, his last the 158 that should have brought victory against India, which he called his best ever in this form of the game.

In Tests, he has scored 1,802 runs in 41 completed innings at 43.95, including five tons, the best his match- saving 110 in Brisbane last winter.