Pakistan v England, limited overs matches. UAE, 2015.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I think they are fitting in extra T20s because the WCT20 is coming up. Maybe they have guidelines regarding how many days they play?

[Aidan11]

Three T20's after that too.

I can't remember England ever playing a 3 game T20i series.

England have played a few in recent years. Against Pakistan and South Africa in 2012, New Zealand in 2013 and Australia in 2014.

My memory sucks these days. Then again I was never a fan of T20 so I'm not surprised I can't remember.

[KipperJohn]

England bowled and fielded well and hopefully it was the pressure created that induced Pakistan's mistakes.

Irfan was all over Hales who needs to learn to leave sometimes - it's still acceptable in one day cricket especially chasing a relatively low score. He won't get away with those leaden footed wafts outside off in SA.

Nice to see Taylor continue his good form and some runs for Buttler - although they had some luck early in their innings - sometimes it's those little passages of play that finally determine the outcome.

A good win.

[Slipstream]

Have England missed a trick in not selecting Chris Woakes for the test series? I reckon he would have been a better pick than Samit Patel.

Even if he was selected he wouldn't have been picked. In the Tests after seeing how well the seamers have done, what do they do? Pick another spinner.
Woakes will be in the squad for SA though.

[greyblazer]

For the last few months, I have seen England play with no fear in ODIs. I never thought I would say that, but this group of youngsters have forced me to change that view. Just need to keep faith in this group.

[Gingerfinch]

For the last few months, I have seen England play with no fear in ODIs. I never thought I would ever say that, but this group of youngsters have forced me to change that view. Just need to keep faith in this group.

They have, just need to replicate that in a tournament.

[Aidan11]

England happen to be very good in ODIs 3.75 years in every 4.


It's just the .25 tends to happen every time there's a World Cup

[Dr Cricket]

TBH that not strictly true Aiden.
They tend to be very good at home in those 4 years although the next world cup is at home so they should do well.

I stand by this but england biggest problem has always been planning and motivation for the ODI game.
They generally start of well but lose the way in the middle years before the final leg is too late before a shocking world cup.

Hopefully it is different this time, Last time around The core of the ODI team didn't play enough away from home in ODI which probably was the reason they did so badly in Australia.
They just had no idea what their best team or how to bat/bowl in the conditions of the world cup because they really had no past experience in the country barring the tri series before it.

Hopefully Strauss keeps his promise and bulk of the group remains the same with only players clearly not gonna work getting dropped, Wouldn't pick broad in the next world cup though unless he starts playing odi again around the home 2017 or 18 season.

Makes a huge difference of the players actually playing odi instead of resting

[Arthur Crabtree]

England unchanged.

[hopeforthebest]

Can England continue the quality of play they've shown in the last two games? Consistency has not always been one of their strong points away from home.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Pakistan have been woeful in parts of their game in the last two ODIs. Maybe the outcome of this game depends on what they do. Their fielding in the last game reminded me of their performances in games they were alleged to be trying to lose.

Is Nick Knight always quite this whiney?

[hopeforthebest]

Pakistan have been woeful in parts of their game in the last two ODIs. Maybe the outcome of this game depends on what they do. Their fielding in the last game reminded me of their performances in games they were alleged to be trying to lose.

Is Nick Knight always quite this whiney?

Knight regards himself as SKY's expert on one day cricket and every word he utters is a pearl of wisdom. He also loves Hales to death.

[hopeforthebest]

Bowling straight to Hales early in his innings is a mistake, he's more likely to snick a delivery just outside off.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Roy is shanking a lot of these. He's been England's fastest scorer so far, so they'll rely on him for a start. I expect England will be happy with 270, but it's got harder to bat later on in other games so they'll need runs up top.

[hopeforthebest]

These batsmen will have to get themselves out if Pakistan don't start bowling a lot better than this.