'It's Harry's team now': Brook makes quick impact

White-ball captain brought fresh thinking to England and was rewarded with series win against West Indies

- Simon Burnton

It is just three games, one series, played at home against one of the few major teams ranked even lower than them. But if it would be unwise to get carried away with England's clean sweep of West Indies there was no mistaking what we witnessed along the way: green shoots, tender and fragile but undeniable, desperately needed signs of renewal after a period of atrophy.

The genesis of a new team, under fresh leadership, with fresh emphases and impetus. It has been overdue. From the miseries of the last World Cup to the indignity of the Champions Trophy this year, England's recent 50-over record is dire. Between the start of that World Cup and this summer they played 26 games and won seven, along the way playing bilateral series against West Indies, Australia, West Indies again and India and losing them all.

After Matthew Mott was appointed coach and Jos Buttler took over the captaincy in 2022 results nosedived: even Buttler's best year in the job, 2023, was worse than any of the seven his predecessor, Eoin Morgan, spent in charge, and of his last 15 games England won three.

Mott left last July and has since been replaced by Brendon McCullum, while Buttler stepped down in February saying he had "just reached the end of the road". His team looked knackered and almost as miserable as those who had to watch them. Not any more.