We are not the finished product yet but series win a step forward: McCullum

After 4-1 hammering in India, England quickly realized that the original version of Bazball wasn’t always going to yield success. That’s when they charted out a plan for the future that included James Anderson announcing his retirement after the first Test against the West Indies at Lord’s. 

While they saw huge success in the 3-0 home series win over the West Indies, there were plenty of periods when the English batters and bowlers were put to the test. These better ‘refined’ their game style and improved ‘Bazball’ substantially. 

"It's really satisfying, the growth of the side in general," McCullum said after the win. 

"Sometimes, when you lose, you get a period of reflection and what we've seen is a team which has bounced back with a bit more of a harder feel to it."

England might not be the finished product yet, but McCullum sees the team’s progress as a ‘positive’ step forward. 

"The group and the understanding of how we want to play as a team is starting to get to where we want it to. We're not the finished product, absolutely, but this has been a step forward. You're starting to formulate the sort of side able to go up against the best teams in the world.”

"There were delicate moments in this series and it really tested us, so it was extremely satisfying."

The Three Lions made two big changes to their setup, bringing Jamie Smith and Gus Atkinson into the setup. Smith was one of the three English players to score over 200 runs in the series, but what was far more impressive was the way he batted with the tail while still living by the Bazball ethos, striking at 70s. 

Also Read: In Jamie Smith, England have unearthed another Bazballer

On the other hand, Atkinson breathed fire, scalping 22 wickets in the series, averaging just 16.22, including a record-filled 7/45 in his very first Test innings. 

"We knew we needed to make a couple of improvements to continue to improve as a side," McCullum said. "We brought in some new faces and some guys that have shown that they're very comfortable at international level, and until you give some people an opportunity, you don't know right?

"What we've seen from Gus Atkinson, from Shoaib Bashir and Jamie Smith.. these guys have shown that international cricket is where they belong and they've performed accordingly. It's really satisfying from that point of view, but also the growth of the side in general."

Not just that, England also trusted a young Shoaib Bashir over the experienced Jack Leach, and the results were there for the taking. The 20-year-old picked up nine wickets in the series, including a 5/40 to give England a huge win in the second Test in Nottingham. 

"Keep in mind that the guys who have been in there before did a really good job for us. It's certainly no slight on them, but we felt that we needed to introduce some new guys, and guys with skill-sets which would complement the rest of the guys in our line-up," McCullum explained the tough decisions that they had to take. 

"We opted for that and you hope they go well, and you don't ask for instant gratification when it comes to those. But the way the series played out, you'd say the guys have performed and certainly shown they're good enough at this level."

Despite the 3-0 cruising, England still find themselves loitering at sixth on the World Test Championship table, with a PCT of 36.54, having played 13 Tests. Their next assignment will be the three-match home Test series against Sri Lanka, which starts on August 21.

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