England's Summer of Cricket: Where do Eoin Morgan's men stand ahead of 2019 World Cup?

Although Eoin Morgan’s men were beaten 2-1 by India in the Twenty20 series, that came after a 5-0 one-day international whitewash of Australia that was followed up with victory in the only Twenty20 clash.

With a year to go until the World Cup on home soil, Press Association Sport takes a look at the good and bad of England’s limited-overs summer.

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Are England World Cup favourites?

England justified their tags as favourites ahead of next year’s World Cup with a ruthless demolition of Australia, winning six out of six clashes against their old rivals, putting a young, inexperienced side to the sword on the back of some explosive batting that yielded a world-record score of 481 against Australia at Trent Bridge.

India proved to be a much tougher proposition, and although England were second best to their opponents in the Twenty20 series, they showed in the longer one-day format they are a formidable unit and are certainly the team to beat in that format, especially in home conditions.

Spin twins

While the explosive batting of Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Alex Hales, Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler might have earned the majority of the plaudits over the summer, the impact of spinners Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali must not be underestimated.

They each claimed 12 wickets in the whitewash of Australia, with Rashid claiming six against India and Moeen taking another two. It is not just about removing the opposition though as Moeen in particular kept things tight and was difficult to get away.

The Worcestershire all-rounder though will be disappointed with his return with the bat.

Brutal Buttler

Jos Buttler has proven to be England’s trump card in the 50-over format with his ability to score quickly in the middle order and strike bowlers out of the ground almost at will.

Although he is known more for his power, hitting it was an entirely different innings that will stick in the mind from this summer. In the final game of the series against Australia with England struggling, he played a sublime watchful innings, striking an unbeaten 110 that showed he is not all about power but can play to the situation.

He struck one century and three fifties over the eight one-day internationals.

Joe Root’s return to form

The England Test captain had endured a barren run in the 50-over format before a welcome return to form that saw him make back-to-back centuries to earn the man-of-the-series award against India.

Root had scored just one century in 24 innings and only 107 runs over the summer before Lord’s but consecutive unbeaten hundreds will restore his confidence in the short form.

An in-form Joe Root is key ingredient to success for England.

Trouble against spin

Spin may be a key ingredient to England’s bowling attack but they will be worried by their own shortcomings against it.

Left-arm chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav in particular had England in all sorts of problems. England failed to learn from his five-wicket haul in the Twenty20 series as he took six for 25 in India’s stroll to victory in the opening ODI and followed it up with another three wickets at Lord’s.

The one glaring weakness in this England side is something that will need serious work.