The English Cricket Team

2015: A dismal World Cup, stalemate against New Zealand, an Ashes victory against Australia and defeat to Pakistan in the UAE.

In short, a horrid World Cup campaign meant a more positive approach was adopted in One Day Cricket, and this positivity carried through to the Test team, who played out an entertaining two match series against New Zealand, before reclaiming the Ashes after the humiliation down under 18 months earlier. This all preceded an interesting series against Pakistan, which many predicted to be dull due to the poor attendances and batting-friendly conditions in the UAE, but was actually rather good. Although the series was lost, it was good to see such an entertaining series, where the outcome could have been very different if the first test in Abu Dhabi had gone England's way. 

However, what does the past twelve months tell us about England's prospects going forward into the upcoming series against South Africa and 2016, which includes a T20 World Cup in Asia, and home series' against Sri Lanka and then Pakistan? 

Firstly, the Test series in South Africa is sure to be an intriguing one. Although England lost in the UAE, this is no disgrace, since Pakistan have played their home fixtures in the UAE, they are yet to lose a home series and have become very competent at using the unique conditions to their advantage. South Africa, although rated as the best team in the world, have shown recently in India that they are not the team they used to be, with their fragile batting line-up highlighting their woes. AB De Villiers and Hashim Amla will be crucial in the series, and if England can keep these two world class players at bay there is no reason why the series cannot be won. 

England's batting line-up is too sure to be tested, with South Africa's bowling threat coming overwhelmingly from their pace attack. Alex Hales, who is likely to deputise, along with Nick Compton, James Taylor and Jonny Bairstow are all sure to be tested against arguably the best pace attack in the world, and how they compete is sure to shape the series. If England are to win the series, they need these players to step up to the mark, and support the likes of Cook and Root, who are sure to score big runs at some point during the series. 

This series will be a very interesting one, but if England take the same intensity that they displayed against all their Test opponents in 2015, this series is sure to keep us all glued to the latest score updates, with South Africa wanting to prove that they are still the best team in the world on home soil following their, at times, poor display against India recently. 

In terms of the T20 World Cup, it is very difficult to predict how England will fare. Although India are likely to be favourites, with home advantage being critical, the explosiveness of this format of the game means that the tournament is up for grabs to anybody. 12 months ago, I would have said England did not have a chance of winning the tournament, but after the one day series against New Zealand and victory against Pakistan in ODI's and T20's, this has changed my opinion. Jason Roy and Alex Hales have proved to be a good opening partnership, with Reece Topley, David Willey among others proving that they have what it takes with the ball. It has been refreshing to see these types of players, of which some could be classed as one day specialists, given a chance in the England team with free reign to play their natural game, and this has translated into wins on the pitch. Whatever the outcome, the World Cup will be a good watch, and how far England can go could depend on very small margins which cannot be foreseen.

Lastly, the home series against Sri Lanka and then Pakistan should (if England perform how they did this summer) result in home series wins. In home conditions, against opposition which are good, but not world-class, many of England's Test team will want to mark their territory in the team, and ensure that they are regarded as key players in the team. This is a good opportunity for players such as Hales to finally stamp down the position of a  reliable opener that England have been searching for since the retirement of Strauss, and bowlers such as Finn and Footitt (who may be seen as a possible replacement for Anderson in the long term) to prove their credentials on the Test arena. 

In summary, the next twelve months should be positive ones as far as the English cricket team is concerned. The team is in a process of change, and looks to be finally plugging the holes left by Pietersen, Swann and Prior. Personally, I predict a series draw in South Africa, followed by reaching the Semi-Finals of the T20 cup before two home victories in the series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. However, even if the team is not that successful, as long as positive, aggressive cricket is pursued by the team, then fans like me will feel that the team is heading in the right direction after a period of uncertainty following the Ashes whitewash down under two years ago.

Lastly, I look forward to seeing how Eoin Morgan and the One Day teams fare after their change in approach following the World Cup disaster. The team look to be really enjoying their cricket, and in beating Pakistan they showed that this positive attitude is translating into results. It will be interesting to see how the One Day matches against Sri Lanka and Pakistan pan out, and I expect to see games which could be somewhat closer than the Test Matches between the sides.