Is this the best England side in the shorter formats?

England has traditionally been considered a great Test side but they haven’t quite been able to emulate the same dominance in limited overs cricket. From being knocked out of the ICC mega events in the preliminary stages to not winning the World Cup even once despite being the inventors of the game, there is very little glory to write about in the format. But come the second half of 2015 and we have seen a new age England team rise- they have the aggression, the intent, the attitude and the skills to outplay their opponents in ODIs and even T20Is.

That is what pushes us to think- is this the best England side in the shorter formats?

The future of English cricket in right hands:

The misery of Test cricket where England failed to deliver in the Test series in the UAE was followed by a remarkable reply from a young English team. Despite tough conditions Morgan & Co. delivered a proud performance against Pakistan.

The post World Cup era was always going to be a resilient challenge. However, this team is working better than most England sides. Moreover, the captain has managed to find a perfect blend of experience and youth on the field. The combinations they have worked out has been one of the prime reasons behind England’s triumph in the desserts.

Batting strength:

What makes this entire unit special is the ability to trust the credentials of a player. Jos Buttler was going through a rough period as he reached the ‘make or break’ phase in his career. The team management continued their faith in Buttler who delivered some fine knocks in the ODIs including a memorable hundred.

The openers are now settled as well. The combo of Jason Roy and Alex Hales can safely be looked as a long-term settlement. This pair has progressed well enough and seems to know the art of constructing an innings.

Further, the team has a responsible backbone in shape of Root, Taylor and Morgan. These players are finding themselves among the runs with an above par strike rate in the middle overs. The Barmy army is hitting more sixes as they bat deep with players who hardly fear any opposition.

Hunting in pairs:

Willey and Topley rattled through the defenses of Pakistani batting lineup. With swing early on and variation with the older bowl, this duo is indeed a long term prospect. Moreover, a new partnership emerged in the series as Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali are containing the batsmen in the middle overs with timely strikes.

The resurrection of Liam Plunkett is a big plus as well. Plunkett has pace that bothers the opposition. He became one of the success stories of the tour who was constantly warming the bench and struck gold when given the opportunity.

Quality new names:

The T20 series where England wanted to test the depth of their squad witnessed fine performances from James Vince and Sam Billings who are making a strong case for the selection for the World T20 2016. Stephen Parry also did his bit with fine left-arm spin bowling.

It was one successful tour for the 3 lions; at one point they looked down and probably out after the Test series. The comeback was huge and deserves applause. The true character of the side was portrayed in every department of the game.

Written by Asif Mathani