Three Tests, three huge victories for England. Three ODIs, three massive defeats for England. Anyone would conclude that the five- and one-day formats are completely different ball games. To some extent, of course, they are. Yet they are both cricket, and the England and India protagonists are basically the same in each series. So why the sudden reversal of fortunes?
It may just be that India have become more comfortable in the 50-over game by sheer weight of experience. Tendulkar, Dravid, Zaheer Khan and co have passed the baton on to Kohli, Raina, Kumar et al, whil the super-cool MS Dhoni provides the link spanning the 'generations'. India are world champions and ranked top of the ICC ODI league, and they look as lively, committed with bat, ball and especially in the field as they appeared lacklustre in the last three legs of the summer's Test series.
On the other hand, there is England's situation. India have a more-or-less settled team while I think it's fair to say that Peter Moores and his selectors have no firm idea of who will take the pitch come next year's World Cup. The past week's performances surely indicate that the current line-up is not up to the task, but, no matter what Graeme Swann may say, the answer is not straightforward. Cook's slow scoring wasn't the issue yesterday; he just got out too early, and Hales and Ballance also lost their wickets quickly, leaving the rest with too much to do. Joe Root and Eoin Morgan steadied the ship yet also failed to impose themselves on the Indian bowlers. Moeen Ali demonstrated how to attack spin bowling but by then the damage had been done.
When India batted, England just could not break through and Ajinkya Rahane and Shikhar Dhawan were merciless. They showed how to set a foundation then accelerate to reach a target - and so with twenty overs to spare. Astonishing stuff! Even though Rahane gave away his wicket, it was special that, with the crowd baying for him to win the game with a six, Dhawan was able to oblige off the hapless Harry Gurney.
Of course the microscope is focussed on the captain Alastair Cook. One of his great strengths is his unflappability, a quality which has made him one of the world's foremost opening Test batsmen. While he is no Jayasuriya or Sehwag, neither is he a hopeless plodder in the one-day game. That he is out of form is not in dispute. Nevertheless, is it too late for him to step down and, if not, who should replace him in the team and as leader?
I feel vindicated that he wasn't sacked as Test captain. I don't like knee-jerk decisions like that; form is temporary and class is permanent, and Cook is a class Test run-scorer. But...this is one-day cricket and there is still time for England to find the right blend of experience, skills and tactics to forge a team capable of doing well in Australia and New Zealand, if not actually to win the trophy.
There are options for bolstering the batting but captaincy potential is more limited. Bell, Morgan and Broad are the main contenders from the current squad and, while James Taylor and James Vince merit opportunities in the side and have county and Lions leadership experience, is it too soon to expect them to take on both roles six months ahead of the biggest competition in cricket? Personally I am not a big fan of either Morgan or Broad and think Bell may be our best chance.
So what about the future for the rest of the team? The new guard of Root, Ballance, Buttler and Moeen Ali are high-class players with a solid claim for tickets Down Under in February, while the swing and seam stars, Anderson and Broad, should also travel. Ian Bell's net injury spared him any connection to the Edgbaston nightmare but he also needs to find some form in the forthcoming practice internationals. The jury is out on Hales but on 2014 form should be given more chances. The aforementioned Taylor and Vince have the ability to build and attack, and we shouldn't write off Ravi Bopara or even Samit Patel, both of whom remain consistently good all-rounders on the domestic circuit.
England's biggest problems are possibly in the bowling support for Anderson and Broad. Ali is an OK spin option, but used even by Worcestershire until 2013 only as a part-time bowler. It's great to see him progress this summer with England and only James Tredwell seems to be in the frame when it comes to slowing down scoring rates. Monty Panesar is out of the question, Simon Kerrigan's form has suffered, Ravi Patel is too raw and Adil Rashid perhaps too expensive.
I'm still a fan of Chris Woakes but Chris Jordan was hopeless at Cardiff and Steve Finn's drop in pace has reduced his effectiveness as a strike bowler. Harry Gurney is there only because he is the only left-armer around since Ryan Sidebottom. Is that a good reason for picking him, that 'he gives us different options'? Perhaps. If it's about extending the batting, then Woakes and Jordan are still worth a punt, and the likes of Tim Brasnan and David Willey (fitness permitting) plus Jack Brooks must be on the radar. Forget Dernbach and Meaker. Please!
Let's see what happens in the final dead rubber against India. A consolation victory will at least raise the spirits if only to paper over the ominous cracks which have appeared in the edifice which only a few years ago had England rated number one. If England don't conjure up a victory, then let us at least admire the Indians, from the bouncy Bhuvy, vibrant Raina, arty Ajinkya to the artful Ashwin and ooooh Ravi Jadeja. At least in ODIs, they seem to know what their roles are, and are capable of fulfilling them to the letter.
