England have suddenly become a good One Day team. It was not long ago that New Zealand’s motley crew made them look every inch the sixth ranked team in the world that they were.

It is dangerous to predict a bright future for a team that has been so poor for so long, but a new captain and some changes in personnel have quickly helped transform England into a formidable unit. A 5-0 whitewash over South Africa was one of the summer’s unlikeliest cricket bets, but it would now be a surprise if there was any other outcome.

A change in leadership often generates a short term improvement in performance, but there is every reason to think that Kevin Pietersen can oversee a successful era in England’s ODI cricket. The return of Matt Prior, Steve Harmison and most importantly Andrew Flintoff has balanced the side and the first choice eleven is now full of batting and bowling.

The continued omission of form county players Ravi Bopara and Dimitri Mascarenhas suggests there is strength in depth and competition for places, with players’ minds concentrated by a desire to impress the new skipper. The lure of the Stanford bonanza has also contributed to players showing the necessary application to produce their best form.

Batsmen are building proper innings and evaluating pitches, bowlers have shunned variety and experimentation in favour of line and length and the fielding is sharp and full of energy.

Pietersen’s desire to attack saw South Africa bowled out cheaply twice and the conversion of a strong position contrasted starkly with Paul Collingwood’s defensiveness when New Zealand were on the ropes at Bristol.

However, there are reasons to be cautious. England’s frontline bowling attack, reliant on pace, bounce and swing, will not find life so easy in India and the Caribbean, although Graeme Swann will come in for Luke Wright in the winter to bolster the spin department. Seven matches in India will provide good experience ahead of the next world cup, which is to be played in the subcontinent.

South Africa have provided poor opposition, which makes it hard to measure England’s improvement. The Proteas are patently no longer the second best ODI team in the world, lacking the high calibre all-rounders they were once famed for and showing an inability to adjust to different conditions.

India will be a far tougher proposition and will help confirm whether England have indeed assembled the right top order to utilise the power plays. However, there are fewer questions than answers for a change and punters might fancy backing England to turn over an inconsistent India on their own patch.