We have had a brilliant summer – field better and the sky is the limit

Test and one-day sides have shown the mental toughness needed to win from any precarious position

If England beat Australia tonight, it will be the perfect end to a high-class summer of cricket. Two things have impressed me about England. Firstly, their mental strength under pressure in both the Test and one-day game. Secondly, their decision to make it harder for themselves by replicating conditions for the next two World Cups in Asia rather than take the easy option of going with traditional English conditions.

The mentality of this England side has become so good. They have found themselves in so many precarious positions but found a way out. They lost their first Test to West Indies but came back to win the series.

They overturned a poor performance in the first Test against Pakistan to somehow win a game they should have lost and they have levelled this one-day series with Australia when they looked dead and buried in the second match.

They are such a good team when the heat is on. They have this belief that if they keep going they can win from anywhere.

To produce that mentality under lockdown is a hell of an effort. They must have been bored and missing home hugely. It is easier being on tour. It is hard when you are in England and cannot nip home.

This is an England side I trust to win the key moments. They seem to know how to galvanise each other and it is rarely the same person who produces a bit of magic, which is so important.

From Ben Stokes, Zak Crawley and Jos Buttler in the Tests to the Curran brothers, Sam and Tom, doing it the other night against Australia, and Chris Woakes being remarkably consistent across every format, England have players who have stood up in the big moments.

Jofra Archer’s bowling in white-ball cricket has been exceptional, too, and given us hope for the Ashes. He has been quick and bouncy, which is what we all want to see in

Test cricket. Archer has the wool over David Warner’s eyes. Is that something England can continue in Australia next winter? A batsman who has been dismissed by the same bowler several times suffers a psychological effect. If Archer dismisses Warner in the first innings at the Gabba next year, Warner will be very worried. He has bad memories of facing Archer and Stuart Broad. Negative thoughts can come back quickly.

England have a skilful, varied pace attack. They have a couple of young batsmen in Crawley and Ollie Pope who could be the bedrock of the side for years. We know the captains are in a good position. Joe Root is learning all the time and developing the Test team while Eoin Morgan is the best white-ball captain in the world. We know in white-ball cricket we have a batting unit that will take the smart option at the right time.

The spin bowling is a problem in Test cricket, but the one element that staggers me in all forms of the game is how bad England are at fielding. With everything around English cricket in terms of

They seem to know how to galvanise each other and it is rarely the same person who steps up

coaching, pathway programmes, fitness and equipment for them to be a very average fielding team surprises me. It will cost them a big moment, whether that is a Twenty20 World Cup final or an Ashes series in Australia. That is my concern.

England have to be careful they do not get a little lazy just because they have won a World Cup. With better fielding they will be unstoppable.

For a long time in English cricket, I have felt we have just tried to win here rather than think about overseas. But Eoin’s philosophy of playing on lower, slower, used pitches is a good idea. It may have been unavoidable because we have only used two grounds for all matches this summer, but it has been to England’s benefit.

Hopefully, when we are back to normal they will use slower, lower pitches so they are ready for the next Twenty20 World Cup and 50-over World Cup in India.

It shows foresight by Morgan to prepare for the next two World Cups now.