A win is a win is a win ... but England's first victory gulp after 61 days of drought left a strangely unsatisfying taste. Maybe it was because there was no Muttiah Muralitharan, or maybe because nothing can take away the pain of the previous 13 matches. Or maybe it's because Sri Lanka decided to pay homage to Sunil Gavaskar's infamous go-slow in 1975 in order to secure a bonus point. There are two ways of appraising England's victory. On the one hand it proves nothing, because Australia have battered them and will batter them again. On the other, it proves everything: that Australia are a truly exceptional side, and that England are a decent mid-table side who can compete against everyone else. Here, against a fair Sri Lankan side, they won emphatically.

Whether the glass is half-full or half-empty, there were undeniable positives for England. James Anderson braved Hurricane Jayasuriya and came out on top, while Steve Harmison showed there is a place for attacking bowlers in England's one-day side. And he only bowled one wide.

Then there was Paul Collingwood, who produced the sort of display that gives bits-and-pieces cricketers a good name. Before he missed the ICC Trophy through injury, Collingwood had played in 21 consecutive one-day internationals, yet he had strangely been left out in this series until today. He made the most of his chance. The catch to dismiss Kumar Sangakkara was a scorcher, and the Thorpe-esque manner in which he made 37 precious runs was extremely impressive.

England have enough chunky biffers to make up a darts team; what they lack is someone who can score at five an over without recourse to boundaries. Collingwood is no Michael Bevan – he's not even a Russel Arnold – but he's as good a man for the job as England have. Batting at No. 5 in one-day internationals, Collingwood averages 64, and that is where he should stay, with Alec Stewart at No. 6 and the cavalry of Ian Blackwell and, hopefully, Andrew Flintoff at 7 and 8.

With his almost apologetic demeanour, Collingwood looks like the sort of man whom a Lord's gateman would refuse entry to, the sort of anonymous team member who chips in here and there. Yet the stats say he is central to England's ODI health: his averages when England win (51 with the bat and 36 with the ball) would do Ian Botham proud. His performance when England lose (11 and 91), however, would shame Kathy Botham.

As one door opens, another could be creaking shut for Ronnie Irani. A week ago he was England's main man, but temperament alone can only get you so far. With the bat Irani is only good for merry slogs, and Steve Waugh showed what good batsmen should do to his bowling. Irani's laughable attempt to stop a boundary towards the end – his dive ended about five yards short of the ball – was a cabaret act too far. If England want character and banter, they might as well pick Alan Partridge. At the moment, Irani's averages in this series – 0.33 and 120 – are about as funny as spending three hours mangling metaphors with Navjot Sidhu.

Rob Smyth is assistant editor of Wisden.com

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