ENGLAND’S ACTION MEN MUST FLEX MUSCLES

This big challenge is perfect Champions Trophy warm-up

This is what England’s investment in whiteball cricket is all about. This is why Andrew strauss recruited a coach in Trevor Bayliss with particular limited-overs expertise and made sure one-day playing contracts were as soughtafter as Test ones.

A three-match 50- over series against south Africa that starts at headingley today and the Champions Trophy that follows next week represent the start of an era where England really do treat white-ball cricket just as seriously as red.

England began the process two years ago with this summer in mind and exceeded expectations with their narrow defeat in last year’s World Twenty20 final. Now team director strauss is seeking repayment for his investment.

Put simply, it is time for England to deliver, defeat the team still ranked No 1 in the world in oneday cricket to get the white ball rolling before finally winning their long overdue first global title over the longer limited-overs distance.

For all England’s improvement in white-ball cricket, first inspired by captain Eoin Morgan and assistant coach Paul Farbrace before being enhanced by Bayliss, they are still stuck in mid-table in the world rankings at No 5.

They remain inconsistent and are not yet the finished article, with strauss hoping this most gifted and exciting of all English one- day teams will peak in two years’ time when England stage the next World Cup.

south Africa, even without Dale steyn and their numerous Kolpak defectors, remain a dangerous side, brimming with talent led by AB de Villiers and Quinton de Kock plus a bowling unit featuring the exciting Kagiso Rabada and the particular white-ball threat of spinner imran Tahir.

Yet so rapidly have England improved since the debacle of the last World Cup that they really should expect to defeat an ageing south Africa side before going into the Champions Trophy in the unaccustomed role of favourites. Coping with great expectations might be as big a challenge as any opponents, particularly in a ‘mini World Cup’ of eight teams where one slip-up might mean elimination before the Champions Trophy has even got going.

‘if anything it is a compliment,’ said Morgan of England’s status as Champions Trophy favourites.

‘But it is a ruthless tournament and if you don’t start well it can hurt you and you can be out before you know it.’ That is why south Africa will be perfect opposition today in Leeds, at southampton on saturday and Lord’s on Monday as three Royal London clashes represent a much better warm-up than practice matches.

‘it is really exciting for us to start our preparation against one of the best sides in the world,’ said Morgan.

‘They are full of accomplished, professional players and it is important we go out and play the way we have done over the last two years because it has worked.’

England welcome back Ben stokes, Jos Buttler and Chris Woakes from the indian Premier League, with Morgan saying that, far from fatigued, they are ‘fired up’ to be here playing for England.

Morgan also confirmed that Moeen Ali will return on what looks a run-filled headingley pitch having missed out on the two wins against ireland.

That means, as expected, the unlucky Jonny Bairstow misses out — a reflection of the depth of talent available to England since Bairstow would walk into any other 50-over team in the world.

‘it’s always hard to leave Jonny out,’ admitted Morgan. ‘he never lets us down and this is his home ground, but we’ve got a very strong top seven who have proved their quality as a unit.’

England face, if anything, an even more difficult bowling decision with Liam Plunkett, Mark Wood and David Willey competing for two places and Jake Ball the only bowler certain to be left out.

Willey is valued because he swings the new ball and has the added advantage of being a left-armer, but the indications are that he could be another Yorkshire player, along with Bairstow, to miss out.

‘it is a tricky one, probably more so than the batting,’ said Morgan, who began his press conference by expressing sympathy and support for the victims of the Manchester terrorist attack. ‘This is the first time we’ve had everybody fit, which is a good position to be in.’

so the stage is set for England to show that they are better equipped in limited-overs cricket than in the Test arena. Now they just have to prove it.