There's room for improvement

ENGLAND'S 2-0 Test series win to add to both limited overs victories over Bangladesh may seem like a satisfying tour but it was not as smooth as it could have been.

This was particularly true of the last Test when for much of it England were on the back foot against a team that had previously lost 57 of 68 Tests they contested.

Of the nine Tests that they have not lost they either came against Zimbabwe, a weakened West Indies or were rain-affected so they have not yet achieved a genuine Test win or draw. They did come mighty close last week though and, but for a lack of composure at the end of day four and beginning of day five, they would have pushed England much closer.

In fact, had the young Bangladesh captain not put England in to bat in the first Test that too would have been a much closer affair and we would be looking back even more confused to understand whether this tour had been a success or not.

England had arrived without Andrew Strauss who was having a 'rest' from international action. He had received much criticism for this but he had always insisted that the decision was not taken 'unilaterally....but we have to look at how we can get the best out of our players'. Cricket is different to every other sport, though, when it comes to leadership as their role is vital and every time a team is without the captain then it feels like something is missing.

England's batting performed satisfactorily enough although Kevin Pietersen still appears to be struggling to recapture his previous world-class form. Whilst he did get back in the runs this was only Bangladesh and he is vulnerable to spin, particularly the left-arm variety. He would have considered this tour as a formal net session and at least he looked like he was happy to be at the crease which has not been the case for some time.

Of the others, Cook and Bell both averaged over 100 and Collingwood scored a century so with Strauss back that leaves only the number six spot to decide ... and that depends on the balance of the team in terms of how many bowlers they want to play.

Without Flintoff there is no natural all-rounder so unless Prior bats at six then they can only go in with four frontline bowlers. Against the likes of Bangladesh or a decimated Pakistan side this summer that might suffice but a trip to Australia next winter might be an altogether different proposition.

Jimmy Anderson also missed the series choosing to stay at home and rest his ankle and with his absence came a slight imbalance to the attack. On flat wickets and no natural swinger of the ball England often struggled to dismiss the tail and although Broad and Bresnan had good performances the others looked very lightweight. Luke Wright, Ajmal Shahzad and Liam Plunkett all had their chances but none of them were convincing.

This lack of a third quality seamer meant England eventually chose the option of a second spinner to add to the highly impressive Swann. This was James Treadwell and a 6-181 and a solid 37 with the bat justified the decision to go for this option.

However, three seamers and two spinners means Prior bats at six and he is still far from convincing in this position and although his keeping skills are improving they are not as secure as many other potential rivals.

False optimism is a national pastime in England and even though there are still many areas where they were far from convincing this is a team that has the winning habit. There are no real superstars - except an in-form Pietersen - so the team is greater than the sum of its parts and there is no reason they cannot progress further.

The Twenty20 World Cup comes first this summer and, to be fair, England are so far behind other countries in this format of the game they cannot expect to win this but then Bangladesh visit again before Pakistan arrive. This last series would normally be a very stern test but with all the controversial absences in the tourists' side it might not be the match-up we would normally hope for.

I sincerely hope that the England team do not see these games as merely a warm-up to the Ashes this winter as cricket is more than this rivalry and, anyway, the Australians are still the team to beat so pinning a country's success on a victory in Australia is misjudged at best.

England's end of term report would read 'played well, did the job required of them but still lots of improvement required in several areas' before they can be considered world class.