The main point we made about England’s campaign in the Champions Trophy in February was that they do not know how to play 50-over cricket.
That is not entirely their fault – they hardly play it. It is almost all T20 that these players play now, and 50-over cricket is a completely different game.
Rebuilding innings – like South Africa had to do at Lord’s – is a skill you learn through playing the format.
England’s players must learn how to pace it and how to restructure an innings when they lose quick wickets.
On the past two showings, not too much has changed from the mindset that existed at the Champions Trophy.
Yes, England beat West Indies 3-0, but they are not a strong team.
This series against South Africa is a much better indicator of where England’s 50-over game is – and it is struggling.
These one-day series matter because they are linked to World Cup qualification. England could be in the ignominious position of having to go through a qualifier against the likes of Netherlands, Scotland and the USA.
England are eighth in the International Cricket Council’s one-day standings, which are used to determine qualification – the top eight, plus hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe, qualify automatically for the 14-team tournament.
It is not a good position to be in because, after the South Africa series and the T20 tour of Ireland, England head to a tough series in New Zealand.
With the Ashes coming up a few weeks later, it is going to be quite hard for them to be focused on that one-day series.
Having to face qualifying remains a realistic threat.
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