Now’s the time for Key to work out how to win in Pakistan

ENGLAND must enjoy the remarkable turnaround that has not only seen them win six out of seven Tests this summer but has also seen them play with a style that has made people fall in love with Test cricket again. Sky’s viewing figures went through the roof on Sunday as England closed in on victory in the final Test of this LV= Insurance series and those figures have been very healthy all summer. But even though England have been right to focus on the Test in front of them and let the future

Point proven: Rob Key has started brilliantly

take care of itself, now is the time to move away from short-term gains and think about their approach overseas. Winning at home against a weak South Africa batting line-up that only made one 50 in the series is one thing but Rob Key will be asking himself now, ‘how can we win in Pakistan in completely different conditions and with a different ball?’

The pitches for the three Tests in December will be flat and England must think carefully about going there with an attack similar to the one that has been so successful this summer — three medium-fast right-arm bowlers in Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad and Ollie Robinson and an all-rounder of a captain in Ben Stokes bowling on one leg. Who will give England the extra pace they will need in Pakistan? Will it be Mark Wood? Where is Saqib Mahmood with his fitness? Mahmood could provide the reverse swing I had as captain when we won in Pakistan back in 2000 through Darren Gough and Craig White.

Who will be their second spinner to accompany Jack Leach? They will almost certainly be needed in Pakistan.

Are Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid up for going or are they truly done with Test cricket? And if not them, then who?

Are England still happy with an opening partnership of Zak Crawley and Alex Lees?

Yes, they scored runs right at the end here at the Oval as England won the third Test by nine wickets but is there enough potential and growth in their partnership?

We do have to appreciate how tough it has been batting at the top of the order in England in recent years. You only have to look at how difficult someone as good as Dean Elgar has found it this summer to know batters have to be given some leeway. But England will ask themselves if they can do better and it would appear they are very keen on Ben Duckett, called up as cover here when Jonny Bairstow injured himself. There are also others they will consider like Dan Lawrence and Harry Brook, who made his debut here and could move up to the top of the order. It may have looked as though England were hesitant to make changes this summer and were very loyal to the players they picked, but they must always be looking to improve and not take this initial success in home conditions for granted.

For instance, Matt Potts had been doing very well on his introduction to Test cricket, but at the moment Robinson is a better bowler and England have been proved absolutely right in bringing him in at Old Trafford once they were completely satisfied he was fit.

That planning will come soon enough. For now, England and their new captain in Stokes, coach in Brendon McCullum and managing director in Key can congratulate themselves on a job very well done.