It is long overdue, but England seem to have finally grasped the importance of the first 15 overs of a one-day innings. Their scores before the fielding restrictions were lifted in the last three matches (90 for 1, 88 for 1 and 101 for 1) were the highest they have managed since Ally Brown and Nick Knight flayed 113 for 0 against South Africa at Headingley in May 1998 -- 60 games ago.

And it's not just in the first 15 overs that a steady flow of runs is important. Australia have shown the value of scoring at a run a ball all the way through, and even the approach that Sri Lanka patented in 1996 -- pinch-hit, regroup, slog -- is passé now.

However it takes real conviction to continue going at a run a ball when you lose a few wickets. Paul Collingwood managed it at Bulawayo but England usually retreat into their shells if they lose more than two wickets in the first half of the innings, leaving them with too much to do in the last ten overs.

In Pakistan in 2000-01 they were 171 for 3 in the 39th over and made only 211 for 9. A few weeks earlier, in the ICC Knockout Trophy match against South Africa at Nairobi, they did even worse. After eight overs they were 5 for 0, but they rallied to 154 for 4 in the 37th, only to be bowled out for 182 with almost six overs unusued.

Patiently laying a foundation for a ten-over slog will work from time to time but not consistently, as bowlers are too crafty these days. Better surely to do it the Australian way. Against Pakistan in the NatWest Series match at Trent Bridge, Australia were 113 for 5 in the 14th over, chasing 291. And though they went on to lose the game, they really shouldn't have. From 190 for 5 in the 32nd -- 101 needed from 18, with Steve Waugh and Andrew Symonds at the crease -- Australia would expect to win eight times out of ten.

England certainly have the set-up to play this way. With Nick Knight's improvisation and Marcus Trescothick's meaty hitting they have a perfect opening pair. Graham Thorpe and Collingwood can nudge and nurdle five and six an over in mid-innings, the time when England's nemeses -- mediocre slow bowlers -- are usually on. And at the death, there are few cleaner hitters around than Andrew Flintoff and Ben Hollioake.

The components have always been there. At last it looks like England might be learning how to use them. Rob Smyth is on the staff at Wisden.com

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