Celebrate, then focus on the spin test to come

EnGLAnd have to soak in this moment: it is not every day you win the Ashes. some of us never managed it at all. They can be very proud of what they achieved. It’s also fair to say these are exciting times for the England team. In the past, they have had guys with plenty of ability who have been found wanting when it comes to character — and guys with character who have lacked the ability.

This side, though, contains young men with both qualities — Joe Root, Ben stokes and Mark Wood (below) all spring to mind. Then there are characters like stuart Broad, who is precisely the kind of player you would want to go into battle with.

These are all cricketers who will enjoy the moment, then knuckle down to the next challenge. It’s why England fans should be optimistic about the future.

But — and you knew there was a but coming — English cricket has not suddenly cracked it simply because they have rolled over Australia in a series where conditions have suited the home side, with the exception of Lord’s.

Yes, when there is lateral movement — both off the pitch and in the air — this England side are as good as any in the world. This Ashes series has confirmed that.

But take away that movement and they struggle, especially with the ball. It happened in the Caribbean recently, when they really ought to have beaten West Indies. And it happened in the second Test against the Aussies at Lord’s.

It’s true that the seam- bowling line-up is starting to take shape. You have the class and experience of Jimmy Anderson and Broad, followed by the bounce and pace of steven Finn, the energy of Wood and the potential of stokes.

The spin-bowling department is less straightforward — and there’s no easy fix. England’s next tour is to the UAE, where they lost 3-0 to Pakistan last time round, and they will need to fit in two spinners there. They were crazy not to have a look at Adil Rashid in the West Indies, so it may be worth giving him a go at The oval. Whether that means a straight swap with Moeen Ali at no 8, or promoting Ali to open in place of Adam Lyth, I’m not sure. But England can’t go to Abu dhabi and dubai crossing their fingers and hoping Rashid will be able to switch it on.

Ali could open against Pakistan, but it would also benefit England if Alex Hales stays in the mix. He’s not had a good run of late in four-day cricket with nottinghamshire, but the upside of his potential is more exciting than, say, the upside of Lyth.

There’s also the question of how England bat against spin, both in Tests and one-day internationals, because that has always been a concern.

I hope, too, that England are clever with the way they manage workloads. Root, who is an absolute gem, is having problems with his back almost every innings now, and he’s a guy who plays every format of the game.

Andrew strauss wants to take white-ball cricket more seriously, and quite rightly, but the management will need to keep an eye on some of these players — while giving the one-day game the respect it deserves. With the fixture list as it is, that is not going to be easy. But it will be crucial to England’s future that players like Root and stokes, who is vital to the balance of the attack, especially if they want to play two spinners, are looked after properly. If they are, and if England can work out a way to take 20 wickets in conditions that have traditionally felt alien to them, there is real reason for excitement about the years ahead.