Tri-Series: five things we learned about England

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2015/feb/02/tri-series-five-things-we-learned-england

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All is not lost for the World Cup

Sunday’s defeat in the Tri-Series final was a reality check for England after what had been an encouraging month or so since their arrival in Australia. Firstly the batting line-up, rejigged after Alastair Cook’s sacking as captain late last year, is more settled. Things aren’t perfect – and we’ll get to that later – but Ian Bell and Eoin Morgan, Cook’s successor, have scored centuries in the Tri-Series, while James Taylor (twice) and Jos Buttler have both played significant match-winning innings.

James Anderson and Stuart Broad, reunited in ODI cricket for the first time since the 2013 Champions Trophy final, have also added potency to the bowling attack. Progression has been made from the tour of Sri Lanka before Christmas. More will be needed if England are to make a real impact at the World Cup.

Ravi Bopara must be dropped if he doesn’t bowl

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At his best, the Essex all-rounder can be a devastating middle-order power hitter, brilliant fielder and handy bowler whose nagging medium pace offers control and economy in the middle overs. Bopara is capable of so much with the bat, he has a ODI hundred and has 14 half-centuries. But he is a confidence player who, in this format, feeds off being involved with both bat and ball. Bopara bowled just three overs across five matches in the Tri-Series despite a decent record in Australian conditions, where his average of 33 is lower than his overall ODI career average of 39. It is no surprise then that the 29-year-old’s batting has suffered in this series, scoring just 57 runs at 14.25. It’s quite simple, if he is not in the team to offer an all-round balance then he should not be in it at all.

Moeen Ali might not be the answer at top of the order

There is no denying Moeen deserves his place in the team, with his bowling of equal value to the runs he scores. However, his batting form in the Tri-Series suggests he would be better placed down the order for the World Cup, perhaps at six if Bopara were to be dropped.

England deserve credit for re-installing Bell as an opener. But if they want an expansive stroke-player to dovetail with him at the top of the order why not take a chance on Alex Hales? Yes, the Nottinghamshire batsman has a few technical issues to correct but he could hardly have done worse than Moeen during the Tri-Series. The Worcestershire player scored just 119 runs at 23.80 and although he shared a century partnership with Bell when scoring 46 against Australia in Hobart, it was an innings more defined by luck than judgment.

Steven Finn is getting back to his best

After his nightmare in Australia last winter and a summer rediscovering his action at Middlesex, the 25-year-old fast bowler is getting back to somewhere close to his best. With 11 wickets at 21.36, Finn was the second-highest wicket-taker in the Tri-Series, behind only Australia’s Mitchell Starc, who claimed 12.

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Although his pace is nowhere close to where he was a couple of years ago – think back to the ODI series win in New Zealand when he was being touted as England’s first 100-miles-per-hour bowler – Finn has regained confidence and most importantly the knack of taking wickets. His five against India in Brisbane set up a victory that kick-started England’s campaign. The signs are he will only get better during the World Cup.

But England need to improve their death bowling

Forever the bugbear of fans and commentators alike, England’s inability to consistently put the squeeze on teams late in the innings is a flaw which could fatally undermine their chances at the World Cup. The two matches in Perth illustrated this point perfectly. Against India last Friday, the last-wicket pair of Mohammed Shami and Mohit Sharma were allowed to score 35 off the last 23 balls, a stand which could have cost England the match but for a 125-run stand between Taylor and Buttler during what transpired to be a nerve-jangling pursuit of 201.

Two days later, Australia, thanks largely to the power-hitting pyrotechnics of James Faulkner, added 54 runs in the final five overs. Only Anderson seems capable of nailing the yorker length that is so crucial at the death. Improvements must be made, and quickly, or things could turn ugly in England’s opening two World Cup matches against Australia and New Zealand.