After beating New Zealand to cement their place in the semi-finals of the World Cup, England are just two games away from creating history. Jo Harman believes their adapted blueprint – and the knowledge gathered over the course of the tournament – holds them in good stead.

Jo Harman is magazine editor of Wisden Cricket Monthly. Subscribe here

The freedom of expression which has fuelled England’s climb to the top of ODI rankings, and their progress to a first World Cup semi-final for 27 years – albeit with the odd hiccup along the way – has been widely and repeatedly celebrated. And rightly so. But the meticulous attention to detail which has seen England morph from no-hopers to trailblazers has received less fanfare.

It’s tempting when you see Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow race to another hundred partnership in the blink of an eye, or Eoin Morgan blitz 17 sixes in an innings, or Chris Woakes start his spell with three consecutive maidens while bowling at two of the greatest ODI batsmen that have ever lived, to think that this is a side built on individual brilliance. And to an extent it is – England are blessed to have a collection of some of the most naturally talented, watchable cricketers they’ve ever had, playing together in the same side.

But alongside that, behind the scenes, are carefully concocted plans and in-depth analysis which have helped this team of hugely gifted players get the best out of themselves.

Other than a brief stint in New Zealand for the 2018 Test series, Nathan Leamon, the team analyst, has worked exclusively on white-ball cricket for the last two years to ensure that England have all bases covered at this World Cup. If England do fall at either of the last two hurdles, it won’t be down to lack of preparation.

But however assiduously you plan for a major tournament, a degree of flexibility is required, and successful teams at previous World Cups have shown that.

Take Australia at the 1999 World Cup in England. After opening the bowling with Adam Dale and Damien Fleming in their first three matches in an attempt to exploit seam-friendly conditions, dropping Glenn McGrath back to first-change as a result, Steve Waugh’s side found themselves on the verge of being knocked out of the tournament after defeats to New Zealand and Pakistan.

They shelved the plan, threw McGrath the new cherry, and Australia went unbeaten for the rest of the tournament; McGrath taking 15 wickets in his next seven matches.

All of which means we’re unlikely to see Moeen again in this tournament, which is regrettable in the sense that he’s done so much to get England to this position. But world champions need to be both adaptable and ruthless, and Eoin Morgan’s side have shown themselves to be both.

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