England’s group-stage exit at last year’s 50-over World Cup sparked a dramatic transformation in their limited-overs fortunes.
They reassessed their approach to white-ball cricket and it has since paid dividends, culminating in a place in tomorrow’s ICC World Twenty20 final.
Here ecb.co.uk takes a look at how they have fared in limited-overs formats since crashing out of that World Cup with defeat to Bangladesh in Adelaide last March.
England beat New Zealand 3-2 in ODI series
England put their new one-day international philosophy to the test on home soil against a New Zealand side that Eoin Morgan has recently revealed were the inspiration behind their limited-overs renaissance. And England, under the guidance of Paul Farbrace, passed with flying colours, smashing records along the way.
They recaptured the imagination of the English fans in their first game at Edgbaston when they stunned the Black Caps by racking up 408 for nine, their highest ODI total, after losing the toss. Joe Root and Jos Buttler, revelations in England’s rise over the last 12 months, smashed centuries from just 71 and 66 balls respectively, before Steven Finn and Adil Rashid took four wickets each as the Kiwis failed to compete.
England then slipped 2-1 behind in the five-match series, despite appearing on course to chase 399 at the Kia Oval before rain arrived, but bounced back in sensational style to win the series.
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Root and Eoin Morgan both struck hundreds as England completed their highest ODI chase, 350, with six overs to spare at Trent Bridge, having seen Jason Roy and Alex Hales blast 97 from the initial 10-over powerplay, another national record.
A series defeat was on the cards when England slipped to 45 for five chasing a revised target of 192 in 26 overs in Durham, only for Jonny Bairstow to justify his call-up 24 hours earlier with an unbelievable innings that secured a three-wicket win. The Yorkshireman blasted an unbeaten 83 from 60 deliveries, his maiden ODI fifty, to ensure England came out on top in a five-match series that was the first of its kind to contain more than 3,000 runs.
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England beat New Zealand in T20
The feel-good factor around this young England side continued at Emirates Old Trafford in the one-off Twenty20 international. Root smashed 68 as England racked up 191 for seven, a target that was 56 too many for New Zealand after David Willey and Mark Wood took three wickets each.
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England’s stock was rising by the minute after following up the New Zealand ODI triumph with victory over Australia in the Ashes and the sole Twenty20. It was a day to remember in Cardiff as both teams, men and women, had the better of their old enemy. Half-centurions Morgan and Moeen Ali smashed the ball to all parts, including innocent spectators taking a stroll along the River Taff, to propel England to a total of 182 for five that was five runs too many for Australia.
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England lost 3-2 to Australia in ODI series
Having brushed aside World Cup runners-up New Zealand, England’s next 50-over assignment was the world champions on home soil. It looked a step too far when they struggled in chases of over 300 to slip 2-0 behind, but soon found their feet to level the series and set up a decider at Emirates Old Trafford.
England posted and then chased 300 in matches at Manchester, where James Taylor made his ODI ton and Steven Finn and Roy produced jaw-dropping catches in the outfield and Leeds, where Morgan smashed 92.
But Australia came out on top in the decider after England were skittled for 138.
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England beat Pakistan 3-1 in ODI series
England’s frustrating Test tour of United Arab Emirates appeared to have crept into the limited-overs leg when they were well beaten by Pakistan in the ODI opener. But they showed tons of character to bounce back and win the next six matches, proving they had what it takes to win in different conditions.
The three remaining 50-over matches will be remembered for significant landmarks.
England levelled the series on the back of Hales compiling his maiden ODI ton and, after Buttler and Taylor edged them ahead, they finished the series in style.
Roy made his first ODI hundred to set the platform for Buttler to blast the fastest ton by an England player, off just 46 balls, breaking his own record. The wicketkeeper-batsman’s brilliance lifted England to 355 for five, their highest score on foreign soil, and included a national record eight sixes.
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England beat Pakistan 3-0 in T20 series
The credentials England showed to win tight matches at the World T20 were first evident in the UAE when they beat Pakistan by 14 runs, three runs and in a Super Over.
James Vince and Sam Billings made a massive impact when handed an opportunity, making 41 and 53 respectively, before Liam Plunkett and Reece Topley enhanced their sprint-format reputations with three wickets each.
Another impressive bowling display, led by Woakes, Plunkett and Rashid, helped England defend 172 and then Chris Jordan produced arguably the best set of six of his fledging international career in the third T20. With the scores level at 154 at the end of 40 overs, Jordan was entrusted to deliver the Super Over and conceded just three to big-hitters Shahid Afridi and Umar Akmal.
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England lost 3-2 to South Africa in ODI series and 2-0 in T20 series
England’s limited-overs resurgence showed no signs of stopping when they advanced into a 2-0 lead in the ODI series. But they ended a long tour, which started with an impressive Test win, with five consecutive defeats.
The first match saw England almost rack up 400 again for the second time in eight months, finishing on 399 for nine, smashing their highest total on foreign soil that they posted against Pakistan. Buttler was again at the heart of it, hitting a 73-ball ton, along with half-centuries from Hales, Root and Ben Stokes, who also took a sublime one-handed catch in the deep, before rain stopped centurion Quinton de Kock in his tracks.
Hales fell for 99 for the second time in international cricket in the second match, during a chase of 263 that was completed in epic fashion by the brilliance of Buttler and Moeen, but had a fine series with two more fifties and a century.
Despite losing the next three 50-over games and both Twenty20s, England got revenge with an unbelievable win over the Proteas at the World T20, Root helping them chase 230.
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Source: ECB