How England overtook Australia

Stephen Brenkley looks into how England have dramatically changed their limited-overs fortunes after their listless 6-1 thrashing at the hands of Australia soon after last year's Ashes. In the Independent, he picks bold selection, sound strategy, improved fielding and Australian fallibility as reasons for England's series victory.

But it is clear that Australia are not what they were. Their batting line-up is that which has dominated in recent times – they were supreme in the Champions Trophy in South Africa last autumn – but it is not only undercooked in this NatWest Series, it is also showing signs of decline.

Could it be that Ricky Ponting, one of the great players of this or any generation, is beginning to show signs of decline? Suffice to say that it looks increasingly probable that he will not recapture all his old glory (but Ponting being Ponting, he also knows that recapturing the bulk of it in the World Cup next year is more important than doing so now).

On Cricket365, Peter May says that though England are an improved side, Andrew Strauss' side may not be as perfect as its fans would like to believe.

The NatWest Series is talked of as a pointer for the Ashes in October and next year's World Cup. This despite the fact that each side will likely change four players from Old Trafford on Sunday to the Gabba in November. Or that Australia haven't lost in Brisbane since their 1980s nadir. Or that the World Cup is in India not Lancashire. Or, as far as this old rivalry goes, that Australia tend to do it when it matters.