The Analyst believes that, inspired by Team GB's incredible performance at the Olympics, Eoin Morgan's side will continue their recent revolution by whitewashing the tourists
Starting at the Ageas Bowl on Wednesday, England could effect a clean sweep of the five-match one-day series against Pakistan.
One-day cricket is notoriously unpredictable, but England – undoubtedly inspired by the incredible performance of Great Britain at the Olympics – look so strong and Pakistan, now ninth in the ICC ODI rankings, look so unsure.
England’s batting is immense.
Jason Roy made two centuries in the ODI series against Sri Lanka, has barely failed since and is brimming with confidence.
He is {ODDS:103488359:7/2} to be England’s top scorer in the first ODI at the Ageas Bowl on Wednesday.
Alex Hales will enjoy the liberation of white-ball cricket after a tough Test series, and Joe Root is so busy, skillful and versatile.
Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler have not batted for a month because of finger injuries but that is unlikely to inhibit their natural talent – though Morgan hasn’t made an ODI half-century for 11 innings – and Jonny Bairstow is in the form of his life.
There is a batting-only Ben Stokes to fit in there somewhere, too.
With Chris Woakes, Moeen Ali and Liam Plunkett to add thrust down the order, no total should be out of range for this group.
The fast hands of the batsmen are more than matched by the fast arms of the bowlers.
Plunkett and Woakes are both capable of 90mph and England have now added the turbo-charged Mark Wood to the mix, who is {ODDS:103488542:3/1} to be England’s best bowler.
He has been touching 93mph recently and was too quick for Root, Bairstow, Gary Ballance and Plunkett in Sunday’s NatWest Blast semi-final.
Extra pace is invaluable on flat one-day pitches with white balls that are hard but don’t swing, especially at the Ageas Bowl where the bounce is higher.
David Willey’s left-arm option will not be available for the first couple of games due to the hand injury he sustained in the Blast semi, but there is still the variety of Adil Rashid’s leg spin and Moeen’s steady off breaks to add in.
England seem to have all bases covered, making it tough for Pakistan.
They have their own decent variety in the bowling – with fast left-arm, right-arm and spin bowling options – and an explosive opening batsman in Sharjeel Khan, who scored 152 in 86 balls against Ireland the other day.
But the Irish bowling is only military medium and he won’t be able to take such liberties with Wood, Woakes and Plunkett.
Generally Pakistan will struggle to upset England’s potent mix. But as with everything that they do, they will have a good try.
