One Day England might be good at cricket....

It was to be expected I suppose.  After the drama of the ashes, England's cricketers have fallen in a heap during the one day series.

6-0 down with one to play (SBS sunday 7pm aest by the way), the hosts have been utterly inept from word go.  A disparate group of players seemingly clueless on how to play limited over cricket.

Just look at the names.  Denly, Bresnan, Morgan.  Who?  Andrew Strauss had to have his arm twisted to captain the 50 over side, due his lack of suitability for the shortened game, and yet he has been the stand out.

Too nervous, and indecisive in the crucila middle overs, England's batsmen get set, then get out.  Time after time after time.  It's remarkable how the basics of one day cricket confuse them.

It's a similar tale with the bowling.  Too often content to be milked at 4 an over, England lack genuine wicket takers.  I've taken a look at the top 20 wicket takers of all time in English ODI's. It's farcical.  James Anderson is number 3.  Of all time.  Bob Willis is in the top 10 for Christs sake!  Great bowler he was....25 years ago.

England reached the final of the 92 World Cup on the back of Botham at the top of the order, Lamb in support, all rounders chipping in and a slow bowler who kept it tight and took wickets.  Since then it's been a debacle and doesn't seem to be getting any better.

English cricket needs a radical rethink of it's 50 strategy, mainly because they've dumped it at domestic level.  Some of the rationale appears to be that the South Africans have done the same, and they're the best in the world.  Ok....how many World Cups have South Africa won?

The Champions Trophy starts on Tuesday and it's possible Engand will go in on the back of a 7-0 hiding.  I'm not putting much money on them winning a game on the high veldt in the coming month.