Still Room for Improvement for England: Boycott

The ball balloons up in the air and Moeen Ali catches it; Chris Jordan has got Ishant Sharma out with a quick short delivery, and England win the Test series against India 3-1. The English players cannot contain their joy as they all swoop in to congratulate each other and celebrate.

Ever since the disastrous tour to Australia, things had gone from bad to worse for England. Before the victory against India, they had also lost at home to Sri Lanka. Now, things are beginning to look up but some areas still need improvement, according to former players.

England's hunt for an opener, to become an ideal foil for skipper Alastair Cook and a good replacement for Andrew Strauss continues. Sam Robson did not set the tournament on fire with his performances.

Former opener Geoffrey Boycott reckons Robson's technique is not quite up to scratch and feels he will be found wanting against better attacks.

"I am sorry, his footwork and judgment outside off stump is not good enough. We have to find someone better for the sterner tests to come against Australia in England, Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates and South Africa away," Boycott wrote in The Telegraph.

Alex Hales, who has been named in England's ODI squad to play India, has been talked about as a possible partner for Cook.

"I would go with Alex Hales if he comes through the test of opening the batting in one-day cricket for England," BBC Sport quoted former skipper Michael Vaughan.

To the surprise of many people, Ali shone with the ball against India. However, as a batsman his weakness against the short ball was clearly exposed in this series as he was targeted time and again by the Indian pacers. Ali often tried to hook his way out of trouble but this landed him in further trouble and he came in for some criticism.

"He has got out too many times in a naive manner. He needs to go away, look at all his dismissals and tighten up his defence," Boycott reckoned.

Another area England could do with some improvement is their bowling. James Anderson is in a league of his own and and Stuart Broad can be superb on his day. But it is after them, with the third and fourth seamers, that England faces problems. There is a clear shortage of experience there.

"The back-up seam bowling of Chris Jordan and Chris Woakes looked very threatening on pitches when the ball moved all over the place. I am not sure they are going to be quite so testing to opposition batsmen on flat pitches," Boycott was of the opinion.

England's triumph against India is resounding without a shadow of doubt. They, however, will remember the debilitating 5-0 loss to Australia in the last Ashes. Taking this into account they should look to iron out their weaknesses before next year's Ashes in England.