Michael Vaughan: England's super bowlers to complete the whitewash

Pakistan v England / Michael Vaughan / 20 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Can Alastair Cook help England rustle up another win?

"But even if there are a couple of changes, 1.92 is still worth taking at this stage. It’s not easy to make a case for a side who is 3-0 down and rarely looked on top in any of the matches."

Michael Vaughan on why England may have something to celebrate in a big ODI tournament in the near future and how it's the bowlers who will help England over the line once again in the fourth ODI.

Pakistan v England, Fourth ODI, Dubai, Live on Sky Sports 1

So England are 3-0 up and whatever happens in the last match, they will have gone some way to avenging that whitewash in the Test series. Make no mistake about it though: England will be desperate to finish this series on a high and make it 4-0.

It obviously helps when you've had a centurion in each of your three matches but the difference between the two sides in my opinion has been the bowling. Steve Finn has been superb and Stuart Broad, James Anderson and Graeme Swann have also been very impressive. Samit Patel and Ravi Bopara have done their jobs too.

At the moment I wouldn't take anyone's bowling attack over England's. And it's not just about those guys who are playing at the moment. Monty Panesar hasn't been involved in the ODIs despite playing really well in the Tests and Tim Bresnan hasn't had a game in the ODI series after returning from injury. It's some bowling unit that keeps 'Bres' out of the side.

There are two big reasons why I think England have a real chance of winning one of ODI cricket's two big prizes (ICC Champions Trophy or World Cup) over the next few years.

The first is that the use of two new balls plays into England's hands. The bowlers have struggled to make things happen in the past when it stops moving and the batsmen's runs have dried up when it becomes softer so both units will benefit from the ball staying harder for longer.

The second reason is that this group of players who have gone 3-0 up could be virtually the same XI who play in the next World Cup. The selectors may decide that Jonathan Trott makes way for someone like Jos Buttler or Jonny Bairstow so they have an extra big hitter but other than that, all these players are in for the long haul and I can't see any of them retiring from ODI cricket anytime soon.

Alastair Cook is beginning to look very dependable at the top of the order and if Kevin Pietersen and Eoin Morgan peak at the right time when a big tournament comes up, England could be extremely dangerous because I don't have any concerns about their bowling.

As far as the fourth ODI goes, I think you all know where this is going. The one danger about backing England is that they may decide to give Buttler, Bairstow or Bresnan a game as reward for being part of the Tour and that they might find these pitches hard to come to terms with. If it was me, I'd keep the same XI and ensure they secure the whitewash. But even if there are a couple of changes, [1.92] is still worth taking at this stage. It's not easy to make a case for a side who is 3-0 down and rarely looked on top in any of the matches.

The other bet I like the look is for Pakistan to hit the most sixes. Alastair Cook, Bopara and in the last match KP have accumulated runs steadily but we haven't seen too many maximums. And it's only when they're really set that they'd think about going for one. Pakistan's batters think differently and it wouldn't be any surprise to see Shahid Afridi or Umar Akmal clear the ropes after just arriving at the crease. It may be scant consolation but that's a battle I'd fancy Pakistan to win.

3 pts Back England to win @ [1.92]
2pts Back Pakistan to hit the most sixes @ [1.95]