The Analyst believes that England are shaping up nicely, but still have one more role to fill before they can become a top-quality T20 side
England once again showed commendable teamwork to see off Pakistan’s threat in the second T20 international on Friday and seize the series 2-0 ahead of the final match of their tour today.
The venue – Sharjah – will offer Pakistan fervent support, and it is hard to believe that they will not be galvanized by that and a determination to not end the series empty-handed.
But their fielding, fitness and lack of calm thought at crucial moments has let them down. That stems from the top.
Shahid Afridi is still a mercurial cricketer, and produced an exhilarating all-round display on Friday night with three wickets and a balance-tilting 24 from 8 balls in the run chase.
But he did not finish the job and he is the wrong person to be captain.
His excitability bordering on irascibility is not conducive to helping his team close out matches in tight situations.
England have much calmer leaders in Eoin Morgan, and, on his first outing as captain on Friday, Jos Buttler.
Buttler was impressive, for instance, in the way that he reacted after Pakistan had raced to 45-0 after four overs.
He could have looked frazzled and gone with an experienced seamer like Chris Woakes, but instead he calmly called up the left-arm spin of Stephen Parry for the fifth over.
Such a decision was a potential gamble given that it was still during the powerplay and so only two men were allowed on the boundary.
Yet after being clubbed for one boundary, Parry had the nous and confidence to try and really spin the ball, luring the dangerous Ahmed Shehzad down the wicket seeking a big shot before having him comprehensively stumped.
Buttler used Adil Rashid intelligently and proactively, too, and he responded with 2-18.
And when the game went to the wire, Buttler’s general composure seemed to have a soothing effect on the bowlers even though the ball kept disappearing over the boundary.
It was an important factor in a narrow victory.
England have proved over these one-day matches so far that they have a power-loaded, dynamic batting order, and that they will keep the momentum going despite losing wickets.
There is an emboldened approach that flows though the side and a ‘no-blame culture’ if an aggressive attempt goes wrong. The trust in each other is impressive.
They also have a good wicket-taking variety, especially in the spin department.
The one obvious weakness is an inability to be really precise at the death.
Liam Plunkett, David Willey and Woakes have all been entrusted with overs in the last four, and none has quite demonstrated unequivocally that they are the man for the job.
Plunkett has the pace, Woakes the variety, and Willey the character. All have had some success. None has been consistent.
Before England can really consider themselves a top-quality T20 team they must identify one death bowler who can consistently handle the most stressful job in the game.
Pakistan v England third T20 betting
READ: England have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to destructive batting
