England vs Pakistan Series Review

England's quick-fire series against Pakistan ended yesterday with honours shared in the T20s. (Though it is worth noting that Pakistan's win - widely lauded across the web as "historic" - came against a deliberately experimental England team, with Sarah Taylor rested, to give Amy Jones mitten-time, and Lottie Edwards batting down the order.)

The entire series was always destined to be a light entree for the Ashes feast to come; and with the new management team seemingly (correctly, in my view) sticking mostly to Mark Lane's template, there were unlikely to be any huge revelations; and I think this was largely borne-out.

Nevertheless, here are my thoughts:

1. Without Lottie anchoring the batting, we are pretty second-rate in that department. She topped the series batting averages by a country-mile; and it is no coincidence that the game we lost was the one where she stepped aside from her usual opening spot.
2. Danni Wyatt is not an international opening batsman. We knew that two games into the World Cup; and after yesterday we still know it. (Yes, she can hit one in county cricket; but...)
3. Anya Shrubsole isn't right - she took one wicket in 3 games, and that in an over in which she also conceded 7 wides. I'm guessing she isn't genuinely fit; and that is a concern for the Ashes.
4. Natalie Sciver is a keeper. (As in... we'll keep her!) (HT Raf Nicholson!) Although Holly Colvin was back in light training this week, I've given up hope that Katherine Brunt will play any part in the Ashes; so we'll be looking to Sciver big-time in August. (No pressure Nat!)