Highlights of 2015

Before the series against South Africa begins on Boxing Day, here's a moment to look back over the highs of the past year. Of course there have been many downs for England as well, perhaps even more than their ups, but still there are plenty of fond memories to look back on from the past twelve months. Last year in writing my highlights of 2014, Yorkshire's County Championship victory was my personal favourite. They did it again this year and it remains an obvious highlight - so to make this slightly easier on myself I've restricted my selections to the international game only. Here then are my favourite moments of English cricket in 2015:

5. Ben Stokes is reborn

Ben Stokes had a difficult 2014. After being the ray of hope to come out of England's Ashes gloom, he broke a hand punching a locker, was dropped from the test side, and then missed out on the World Cup squad too. What a joy then it was to see a return to form in 2015. There were signs during the tour to West Indies that his mojo was coming back - but it was the first test of the summer at Lord's where he truly made his mark. Back at number six, but coming in to bat when only 30 runs were on the board, he made 92 from 94 in the first innings; then in the second innings he went and made the fastest ever test century at Lord's. Six wickets in the second innings at Trent Bridge, as England secured their Ashes victory, further demonstrated his abilities as a genuine and exciting match winner. Consistency remained an issue, but Stokes ensured that England's love affair with all-rounders would live on.

4. England's ODI revival

The World Cup was a disaster for England. Knocked out against forever-unfancied Bangladesh, bowled out for 123 against New Zealand, their only victories coming against associate teams; really it couldn’t be much worse. It was the same old story repeating itself. What a surprise it was then to see such a dramatic turnaround. The first ODI against New Zealand saw England rack up an astonishing total of 408/9, and the runs didn't stop coming for the rest of the series. Victory over the World Cup runners-up, a close 3-2 loss against the champions Australia, and then victory over Pakistan showed not just a rebirth, but a complete transformation. New players were coming in and making their mark, whilst others were playing with the freedom and expressiveness that seemed absent at the start of the year - think Buttler twice breaking his record for fastest ODI century for England. ODI cricket had suddenly become something for English fans to really get excited about.

3. New Zealand's tour of England

The Ashes may have been the centrepiece for the English summer, but New Zealand were there to do far more than just whet the appetite. There came a test series of two thrilling matches, finishing one apiece and really begging for a deciding third. Five ODIs where the pendulum swung each way, the perfect tonic for English fans after a disappointing World Cup. It was the style of cricket played: full of positivity, always ready to go on the attack. It seemed to inspire England as well. It was the atmosphere throughout - it may be a stereotype to label New Zealand as the nice team of international cricket, but it was a series played in good spirits throughout. And it was the players: Kane Williamson, Brendon McCullum, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, and countless others. The only disappointment was that they couldn't stay for longer.

2. 60 all out

Did this really happen? It was a moment that was hard to believe, but it was the morning that well and truly won England the Ashes. England were without Anderson, but that was soon forgotten when Stuart Broad took 8-15. His five-for came in only 19 deliveries. It felt like you couldn't breathe for another wicket falling. Normally there's at least someone to stand up, rescue the situation somewhat to avoid a complete embarrassment, but this time that person never came for Australia. Batsman after batsman succumbed, often falling in reckless ways that could have been avoided. And there was that catch by Ben Stokes, that even those on the field could barely believe. There was no way back for Australia from there.

1. England regain the Ashes

It's hard to choose another moment as number one in an Ashes winning year. The series wasn't a classic - a 3-2 scoreline disguises just how one-sided the matches truly were. But it was a triumph indeed. Before the series, almost nobody had given England a chance. I thought myself optimistic in thinking that England could sneak a draw. England weren't necessarily that good either, but they pulled through at the right times. Like when Joe Root made the most of being given a second chance at Cardiff, making a century after Haddin spilled at the very start of his innings. How there was always someone to step up with the ball: Edgbaston and Trent Bridge seeing Anderson, Finn, Broad, and Stokes taking hauls of six wickets or more. Even the smaller innings, less remembered but no less important - Ballance's 61 at Cardiff and Moeen Ali's 59 at Edgbaston being examples. England were unfancied, still on the road to recovery after being whitewashed the previous time round. Yet the underdogs came out victorious, and that has to be my highlight of 2015.

A tribute to New Zealand

Now that the first half of the summer is over and the Australians have landed, it's easy to look forward and turn all attention to the Ashes series looming on the horizon. Instead though, I'm going to take a moment to look back. New Zealand's tour of England has been one of the most enjoyable series in recent memory, with brilliant games of cricket being played across all three formats. 

When New Zealand arrived, English cricket seemed at a crossroads again. A series lost in the West Indies and a shambles at the World Cup had seen Peter Moores depart for a second time, and with the Pietersen saga rumbling on the relationship with the fans had grown even weaker. The progress made at the end of last summer seemed forgotten, enthusiasm among the public almost disappeared. It turned out that New Zealand were the perfect remedy for England's ills, doing more to heal the relationship with the fans than the ECB could dream of doing themselves. Two thrilling test matches, finishing one apiece, that left everyone crying out for a third. An ODI series that went right down to the wire, both teams playing aggressive, attacking cricket and lifting run rates to new heights. A Twenty20 not so one-sided as the scorecard may actually suggest. Everywhere they went, New Zealand lit up the grounds and filled the seats. 

And the players, how the players were brilliant. Brendon McCullum and his captaincy, going on the attack from the very beginning. How refreshing it is to see a captain, always looking for the wickets and not letting up, really making things happen. And with the bat the team would follow his example - in the second test their run rate was up around five throughout. McCullum may have not had the most prolific tour run-wise, but his influence was clear all around. It may not have been the traditional way of playing test cricket, but it sure made an impact. There were the bowlers, Trent Boult and Tim Southee, often attacking as a pair that swung the ball either way. Ross Taylor, a constant nemesis for England in the ODI series. Luke Ronchi, always taking the attack to England straight away, be it an ODI or his test debut. Even Mitchell Santner, just 19 years old and in his first series, made his impact felt, taking a Rashid over for 28 to transform New Zealand's innings in the fourth ODI; taking 3/31 in the last match to nearly bring his team the series. There were so many individual performances that I can't list them all.  

Most of all though, there was Kane Williamson. I feel like he's all I'm writing about at the moment, such has been his impact on this tour. He was just a machine, like a perfect batting robot had been invented to grind England down. Everything just looked so effortless, playing all the shots with such ease, especially in the ODI series where he scored at over a run a ball and would just rack up the runs before anyone could notice. There were no flaws, no obvious ways to get him out - when he was dismissed for a fifty it felt like a surprise. Still only 24 years old, Williamson already has 17 international centuries. We will be watching him score countless more for many, many more years yet. 

The 'spirit of cricket' is often just a myth, but New Zealand made it a reality. There was no sledging, none of the mouthing off that followed the series against India last summer. I'm not against all the aggression and at times I think it's great, but I also just feel that it can detract from the game, be too much of a distraction - as was indeed the case with the whole Anderson/Jadeja saga that stole far too much attention last summer. New Zealand showed there's no need for all of that, playing their cricket with maximum intent but always being the first to applaud their opposition. There's no right or wrong way to play the game, but it was refreshing to see and so endearing, the sort of attitude that gives them their reputation as being everybody's second-favourite international side. 

Simply put, it was a brilliant tour all around. For all that had gone on in England beforehand, all the off-field drama, New Zealand came around and helped put the cricket back on centre stage. They made it the main event, the one that people want to see. The tour may be over, but their impact will still be felt.

Oh New Zealand, please come back soon. 

Turning the corner

Based on their previous ODI displays this year, the thought of England winning a series over the World Cup finalists would have seemed laughable. Someone saying England would be playing a style of aggressive, no-fear cricket, capable of scoring 400 or chasing down 350, might be thought to come from some strange parallel universe. And yet it was real. More sudden transformations are hard to come by.

The whole series has been an absolute joy from both sides, a glorious festival of one day cricket right from the word go. While the scores were enough to make bowlers weep - batting records broken all around - it was hard to complain about an even contest between bat and ball when there were innings like these. England had Joe Root, scoring two centuries only to be overshadowed by flashier innings from his teammates; Jos Buttler, whose extraordinary abilities can barely be described; Eoin Morgan, back to his best after his own horror year; and Jonny Bairstow, only in for one game but practically winning that by himself. New Zealand had probably had the best of them all in Kane Williamson, a man who seems to have no weakness, a robot who dismissing for just 50 felt like a great achievement. There too was Ross Taylor, scoring his own two centuries and with the two forming a partnership it seemed impossible to break, both just making it all look so easy. McCullum may have had a quiet series, but it didn't stop a mountain of runs being racked up by either side. The run rate for the entire series reached a massive 7.15, a total of 3151 runs scored across the five games. 

Of course, it all had to come down to the final game; the festival had to have a grand finale. And it was finally a moment where the bowlers fared somewhat better - after four matches where first innings scores exceeded 300 every time, New Zealand could only reach 283/9 (and that helped by some lusty blows from the lower order). The rain came, reducing England's total to 192 from 26. While the run rate had risen, the total still looked very gettable, especially considering the standards of the series. But for all the talk of a 'new England', a sign of the old remained - a good, old fashioned collapse. They are a team on a learning curve, and here the balance between 'positive' and 'reckless' veered too far towards the latter. Yet rather than going into their shells, they came back fighting. With Buttler absent through injury two other young wicketkeepers took the spotlight, Bairstow (83*) and Billings (41) getting the recovery underway in a partnership of 80. And then Bairstow carried England home. He may not have been in the original squad, but he stole the show and with it the series for England. 

It's been a remarkable turnaround in fortunes for England, even in defeat still putting in the kind of performances everyone had been craving. The public, too, responded - after the first match the grounds were practically sellouts. The fresh mindset has been clear to see - long gone is that team that looked so afraid at the World Cup, inhibited and wary; now they are going and enjoying themselves, going for their shots and just attacking. It got them into trouble at times, this final match and the third particularly - 288/6 becoming 302 all out with five overs remaining - but at the same time it was good to see them really going for it, showing that self belief and not settling for a lesser score. Sure, it won't always come off, but they're a young team and will learn from experience. Obviously they haven't turned into world beaters overnight and we mustn't forget that, but even when there are times when they do frustrate us (and no doubt, there will be many), with this new approach it will always be worth watching.

Personally, I can't remember the last time I so looked forward to seeing England playing ODI cricket. It had felt like other teams were sprinting forwards, and England were standing still. Always the same outdated tactics, and players making waves on the domestic scene who offered that something different always being left on the sides. But this series has been a joy to watch with both teams. New Zealand have continued to play that attacking cricket that has brought them so much recent success, and it seemed to spur England on to greater heights too, bringing them into the modern age. It feels a shame that there's now only one match left to play on this tour after what we've been treated to over the past month. Every single game has left us wanting more. Long may this new age continue. 

A brighter future

It is perhaps the greatest compliment of all to say that watching England in this ODI wasn't like watching England play an ODI. The team that looked so scared, so cautious at the World Cup, miles behind the rest of the pack, were almost unrecognisable today. The country that was humiliated by New Zealand in February, bowled out for a measly 123, racked up a mammoth 408 for a 210 run victory. The general consensus was that it must all be a dream, that none of this could possibly be real, or that at least something had to go wrong when the time came to bowl. But instead the 'new era' got off to a better start than could ever be hoped.

It's fair to say that England came into this match as massive underdogs. Whilst New Zealand reached the World Cup final, and have spent the past year setting the world alight with positive, attacking cricket and successes across all formats; England seem to have been lurching from ODI disaster to the next, failing to even reach the knockout stages of the World Cup after defeat to Bangladesh. A significant change in personnel has duly followed, with only four names remaining from the team who lost that early group game against New Zealand. Some have been rested (the Ashes looming on the horizon), some are injured, some may even be gone for good. And the call for a more positive mentality and more attacking cricket certainly looked to be answered. Finally a chance to see Jason Roy and Alex Hales opening the batting (Moeen Ali sent back to Worcestershire to find bowling form); Buttler up to six and Stokes up to five; Sam Billings on debut after a hugely impressive 2014; Adil Rashid returning to the side after six years, the abandoned game in Ireland aside. Already a statement was being made, conservatism not ruling the day.

The very first ball though still set the alarm bells ringing, Jason Roy dismissed for a duck, more of the same. But England were on top from then on. England were just scoring quickly, putting on the runs on the powerplay - and then not letting up afterwards, just waiting for the last 15 overs. Root (104) made it to a century - his fifth now in ODIs - before the halfway mark had even come. Coming from 71 balls, his hundred was England's third fastest in the format; but by the end of the match he'd slid down to third as Buttler (129) made his in just 66 - second only to himself on the list. Both were simply just brilliant innings - but just as important were the partnerships they formed. Morgan (50) found his form in a 121-run stand with Root, a partnership that then seemed tame in comparison to the 177 shared by Buttler and Rashid (69) in a mere 17.3 overs. England had found themselves in a potentially difficult position when the two came together, 202/6 with 20 overs still left, and it might have been expected for them to play safely and make it to the 300 mark. Instead they took the challenge on, from the top to the bottom of the batting order - even Liam Plunkett came out and hit two sixes in a three-ball innings at the end. England passed 400 for the first time, and records were tumbling all around.

Still there was a feeling that if any team would fail to defend this total, England would. With a batting lineup spearheaded by Brendon McCullum, New Zealand often look capable of just about anything, and only four months ago he took Steven Finn to the cleaners in that match at Wellington. But this time, Finn got his man, bowling him for just 10 to win that psychological battle. Steven Finn has gone through more ups and downs than most in the England set up, his obvious potential battling with those periods he becomes 'unselectable'. Today was certainly another up, taking four wickets and being the most economical bowler of the match in going at five an over - even bowling the only maiden of the game. At 26, he clearly still has a lot to offer the side, and England obviously see that too. It would have been easy to drop him, send him away after the World Cup, but instead he's been given a show of confidence, another chance to become a leader of the attack.

But the performance that might have made me happiest was that of Adil Rashid. After contributing to England's heroics with the bat, Rashid also delivered in his primary job with the ball. A lot of the time I've spent following Rashid's career has been in frustration at his handling by England - when younger taken on tours without playing when he really would have been better served bowling regularly, and with a similar pattern following on the recent tour of the West Indies when even more deserving of a place in the side. Legspinners can always go for runs, but they have that element of mystery - something Rashid delivered today, his googly utilised to good effect in taking four wickets. Over the past six years since his last involvement in the ODI side, he's matured a lot as a player and a person, and he really does have a lot to offer this team. His batting in the lower order will be more than handy, and with the ball in hand he can always provide a genuine wicket threat.

Of course, we shouldn't yet get ahead of ourselves - as exciting as this win was, it doesn't mean all problems are instantly solved. Right now, England are playing catch up, reaching the standard the rest of the world showed they can deliver. But it was definitely very, very exciting. It was the mentality that we've needed to see, the one they so badly lacked in the World Cup - there was just no let up, no sitting back with the bat, pushing on all the way through. The biggest performers were two who were part of the World Cup campaign - just going to show that the talent was to be found, it was the mindset that needed to change. England are starting to come out of their shells. If it's anything like this, it will sure be fun to watch.

Alastair Cook - 9000

Just a few weeks ago I was writing about the achievements of James Anderson, taking his 384th wicket to become England's leading test wicket taker (he has since moved on past the 400 mark). But now he is not the only one in the team topping an all-time list: the second test against New Zealand saw the captain Alastair Cook move on to 9000 test runs, and in doing so surpassing Graham Gooch's 8900 to become England's leading test run scorer.

From the moment Alastair Cook made his test debut aged 21, the talk was always about when - not if - he would break Gooch's record. Straight away he made his impact in the team with scores of 60 and 104* on debut in Nagpur, and that despite having flown half way around the world just days before after being involved with the academy team in the West Indies. He was soon a fixture in the side, the new golden boy already touted as a future captain and with great hopes pinned for his future. Of course, like every player Cook has faced his ups and downs along the way, but every time he has come back fighting. Cook was a main star of England's golden year in 2010/11, scoring 766 runs at 126.66 in the Ashes, 390 runs in four innings against Sri Lanka, and his highest test score of 294 against India - but in the summer of 2010 he was fighting to keep his place in the side. And the past two years have seen him struggle with the bat most of all, scoring just enough to get by but not much more, but this year he's started to look as strong as ever - with that never ending patience that grinds opponents down.

Cook has never been a pretty player to watch. When he's at his best, you don't even notice him that much - normally someone else is doing something more exciting at the other end. But that's what makes him such a brilliant test player - he brings the glue, others can bring the flair. We've seen it in this series alone - Stokes ran rampant in the second innings at Lord's and stole all the headlines, scoring 101 in the pair's 132 run partnership; but Cook was still the rock, batting over a day to score 162. Cook is happy to leave and not to be tempted, forcing the bowler to bowl to him - and then punish him for it. And if there's a bad ball, Cook will put it away, cutting and pulling being his major strengths. When he's in form, rarely will his concentration break, and if he passes 100, he'll simply try to score 100 more and make it a 'daddy' hundred. When England go big, a lot of the time Cook will have gone big too, so often the cornerstone of a large score.

Though Cook may never be the greatest of tacticians, what he does do is lead from the front. He is one of the few whose batting average as captain is higher than when not, and that is even including his troubles of the past two years. In what could be described as his greatest achievement as captain - the series win away in India - he was certainly at the forefront, providing that leadership with the bat and scoring three centuries. His captaincy will always attract its critics, but when he is scoring runs and leading that batting line up, he goes a long way to making them quieter.

Records have always tumbled around Cook, and they will only continue to do so. Still only 30 years old, with 9000 runs and 114 tests under his belt, he will easily become England's first man to pass 10,000 test runs, and could even join Tendulkar up in the 15,000 club. Already he has 27 test centuries, another list he heads in the English record book, and many more will surely come. A landmark may have been passed for now, but as ever with Cook, he will still be there patiently adding many more.

The start of the 'new new' era

England's love affair with test cricket returned. Though it was just an 18-day gap between this test and the last in the West Indies, the outlook couldn't look much different. For all the drama off the pitch, the further damaged relationship between the ECB and the fans, sacked coaches and possibly players; the past five days proved that the cricket will always take centre stage. And in what a fashion.

Though after the first hour of the very first day, it looked like the misery was only set to continue. New Zealand showed straight away why they've had so much success over the past year, the fast bowling trio of Boult, Southee, and debutant Henry demolishing England's top order. There wasn't much the batsmen could do as they fell to 30/4, the top four crumbling away in the space of five overs to an excellent spell of bowling. The horror of Barbados was repeating itself. Yet rather than going into their shells, England fought back through Joe Root (98) and Ben Stokes (92). It was brilliant, counterattacking cricket - Root looking on top of the world with the bat in hand; Stokes scoring at nearly a run a ball, and a world away from the man who bagged a pair in his last test at Lord's. Both ultimately fell just short of their centuries, but they were innings that gave England hope. They could have as good as lost the match in that opening session but, along with innings from Buttler (67) and Ali (58), England recovered to a total of 389. Perhaps not an exceptional score, but certainly an exceptional recovery. And already the match had come alive, just one innings in.

But England still weren't on top, and New Zealand did even better when it was their turn with the bat. Martin Guptill scored 70 on his return to the test side after two years, Tom Latham scored 59. And dismissing those two in quick succession only brought Kane Williamson (132) and Ross Taylor (62) to the crease. If Joe Root can be listed as one of the batsmen who will surely be lighting up international cricket for the next ten years, then Kane Williamson is right there alongside him. He just looked in control from the word go, playing the ball late, finding the middle - and if there were ever any edges, he played with hands so soft it could never be a chance. Only 24 years old, it was already his tenth test century. And it was the cornerstone of the innings as New Zealand racked up 523, with further runs also coming from McCullum (a 38-ball 42) and Watling (61).

England had a 134-run deficit to overturn, and when Bell fell in the first over of the fourth day with England still 60 adrift, New Zealand looked a long way ahead. In that first hour of the day, they again bowled beautifully. It was a theme of the match - whilst the ball could do a lot, once the batsmen settled they could really take charge; and run rates throughout were close to four an over. What England needed though was a rock, and after struggling for so long, they can really say that their captain is back in business. Alastair Cook is a man that does best when he can lead from the front, and that is exactly what he did. He often played second fiddle as Root (84) and Stokes (101) were in the runs again, but really that is his job. Bat the whole day, be patient, and allow those players to express themselves whilst quietly accumulating a massive score. While Stokes rightly stole the headlines, Cook batted the whole day, an innings of 162.

But there's no denying that this match belonged to Ben Stokes. If his first innings 92 was a brilliant display of counterattacking cricket, then his century in the second innings was even better. 101 from just 92 balls. The fastest test century at Lord's. Stokes first really made his mark on the 2013/4 Ashes tour, but there had been more downs that ups since. It was here that he truly announced himself to the world, put his name down as a superstar. England have a love affair with all rounders, one that can perhaps put too much pressure on anyone who shows promise with bat and ball. Straight away they can be tagged as 'the new Botham', or 'the new Flintoff'. Stokes may be in a similar mould - able to hit it big and bowl it fast, and with a fiery personality to match - but instead he can just be 'the first Stokes'. There will still be ups and downs ahead - and chances are that he will be a player who frustrates England fans for many years to come, just as much as he pulls it out of the bag. But how England have needed that character - the one who empties the bars, the one lights up the crowd, that can turn a match around. Stokes has that bit of magic about him. And this felt like the start of something.

The match was turned on its head. New Zealand had 345 to chase - not an impossible task with their ability and firepower - or had the best part of a day to survive. But England were ascendant - both openers were soon dismissed for ducks in the first two overs, with Taylor following in the sixth for 8. Broad was back bowling near his best, Anderson was closing in on 400 test wickets. And even when New Zealand looked to be settling in again with Williamson, Stokes struck. He couldn't be kept out of the game. Williamson and McCullum were gone in consecutive deliveries, and New Zealand were 61/5; England truly on the charge now. Watling (59) and Anderson (67) did provide resistance, but England came through. A brilliant five days finished with a 124 run win for England, a result unthinkable an hour in on day one.

What a game test cricket is. This match had everything - memorable individual performances, real strong shows from both sides, the fight backs, beautiful knocks with the bat and spells with the ball, neither team ever ready to give in along the way, sell out crowds throughout, and all results possible on the final day. Both sides put their names on that famous honours board - Williamson and Boult (taking 5/85 in England's second innings, after four in their first) for New Zealand, Stokes and Cook for England; both sides had players making their debuts in a match they will never forget.

But, as an England fan, what came out of this match most of all was hope. While they've been steadily improving over this past year as a test side - the setback in the West Indies aside - this still felt like a special moment. A moment they needed, the moment to show that they can play that exciting, attacking cricket. To show that when they get put in difficult situations - as they were more than once in this match - that they can come out fighting as the best teams do, rather than meekly surrendering. A moment where they could reconnect with the fans, after all the recent drama with the ECB. And to show that they have players to capture the public's imagination, players who can become heroes. This match saw the clouds start to lift, and the future start to look bright once again.