Revitalised England look to restore pride and honour in ODI cricket

Jos Buttler’s display in the first ODI embodied England’s new approach to ODI cricket

Yes, you read the scorecard correctly. England didn’t just bulldoze their way past 300 in a One-day International (ODI), they broke down the 350 and 400 doors too, waltzing to a monstrous 408 – more than double what was required to defeat World Cup runners-up New Zealand in the first match of their five-game series at Edgbaston.

Joe Root set the tone with a swift ton before Jos Buttler’s blitzkrieg of 129 arrested a middle-order slide, hoisting his country to their highest-ever ODI score. Adil Rashid – who himself chipped in with a brisk 69 – then ripped through the Kiwi batting lineup with Steven Finn as England secured a mighty 210-run win. In the first match since their dreadful World Cup campaign, England played a brand of cricket their supporters have been craving for years – funky, unburdened and flamboyant.

Could it be that incoming coach Trevor Bayliss has finally snapped them out of the nightmare they have been living for so long? That we are now well into the 21st century and the best form of attack is, indeed, attack? Whatever the method, it cannot be denied that this side has received the Twenty20 injection it so desperately needed – in both approach and players.

If the World Cup showed anything, it was that England had to change. Barring a shock run on home soil to the Champions Trophy final in 2013, their ODI results have been consistently dire. Under Andy Flower, and later Peter Moores, they adopted a game plan riddled with fear. Instead of being belligerent in the powerplay they would nudge, nurdle and poke around, with the idea of keeping wickets in hand for an assault at the back-end of the innings.

However, that gambit would invariably come unstuck due to top-order failures, or more worryingly, a lack of the late power their strategy demanded. Labelling them merely confused would have been a very generous critique. England’s outdated ways had left them bordering on madness.

The squad announcement alone for the New Zealand matches was enough to perk up hopes; at last, England had invested in a few limited-overs specialists, and some young ones at that. Naturally, judgment had to be reserved until the lads had taken the field – indeed, it still must be considering this bunch have played just a solitary match together – but the selection in itself suggested this was a team who would trust their boisterous instincts, and not cower like their predecessors. And so it proved.

Root and Buttler delight and thrill

While Root and Buttler have lurked in the set-up for a while, the 24-year-olds are relative newbies in the world of international cricket, which makes their notable progress all the more exciting. Root’s 71-ball hundred on Tuesday marked his fourth in 18 ODI innings, it was by far his fastest. The Yorkshireman has become a dependable asset for England and he has now shown just how effective he can be with the licence to be ultra-aggressive.

Buttler, on the other hand, has never shied away from the fact that his talents lie in destruction. His breakout county season in 2010 hinted at his abilities as a hitter and he wasted little time in demonstrating his cool-headedness at the crease, delivering on county cricket’s biggest stages - Twenty20 Finals Day and a one-day final at Lord’s.

It has taken time for Buttler to transition that game into internationals, and save for his brilliant ton against Sri Lanka last summer, Tuesday’s knock was the first time he has performed at his peak in an England shirt. On this evidence, it looks as if the penny may have dropped. Simplification is the key. Fire him up and let him fly, he will take care of the rest.

Cries for Rashid’s involvement fell on deaf ears for too long – a handy whacker and canny leg-spinner, what’s not to like? England’s lack of a genuine spinner has thwarted them too often and Rashid’s addition has immediately paid dividends. Figures of four for 55 won’t always be replicated but leggies have a knack of picking up wickets, even if it sometimes comes at the cost of leaking runs.

James Tredwell’s containing spin served a purpose, but in Rashid, England have a match-winner. His runs are a worthwhile bonus too – without his input, 400 would have been far out of reach on Tuesday, as would the world record seventh-wicket partnership between him and Buttler.

Trusting youth

The inclusion of Jason Roy, Alex Hales, Ben Stokes and Sam Billings brought only 33 runs against New Zealand but they are all capable of bringing much cheer. Since Marcus Trescothick, England have not truly had a dashing opener who can wrestle control of a match. In Roy, they could well have found their Virender Sehwag.

He is still raw and had a first-ball duck in the opening ODI, but his boom-or-bust mentality is going to bring with it ups and downs. He should be given an extended run to properly assess his credentials – it’s not as if England have any major one-day assignments on the horizon.

Why Hales was denied a regular spot in the World Cup team remains a mystery. The lanky right-hander has, admittedly, not had a defining ODI performance as yet, but his T20 showings for England and general efforts for Nottinghamshire bode well for a breakthrough soon. Exploiting the powerplay should prove a far easier task for England with Hales and Roy at the top of the order.

Stokes has courted much media attention with his form in the Test series against the Black Caps but debutant Billings comes into the side as an unknown quality. The 23-year-old is another one for the future and the Kent batsman is rapidly earning a reputation as one of the most ferocious hitters in the country. In a 50-over match at Taunton in 2014, he pumped an astonishing 135 not out from 58 balls – smacking 17 fours and five maximums. If that is anything to go by, watching him combine with Buttler promises to be pure box office.

England have historically been reluctant to show belief in their up-and-comers. Out of the 11 who played at Edgbaston, five were younger than 25 and only Liam Plunkett was not in his 20s. It’s a team stacked with fine prospects who are in for the long haul, and it makes perfect sense.

They are a unit largely without scars who can seek to build their own dynasty. Success is unlikely to come overnight, but this England have already provided an exhilarating glimpse of what they can do and provide a deserved break for the long-suffering fans. They beat New Zealand at their own zealous game; grabbing the contest by the scruff of the neck, which made it all the more satisfying.

Whether they win or lose England have at least found a direction, and under Bayliss’ guidance, they have someone in sink with modern ODI cricket. Restoring pride and honour is going to take time; the public have, understandably, lost faith. However, initial signs are that this new enterprising England have the potential to win them back.