England have taken an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series
against South Africa, which has convinced Paul Weaver that they are now a side to be reckoned with. Click here to read his article in the Guardian.

Some inventions are made faster than you can say serendipity. Penicillin, superglue, the microwave oven and the potato crisp were all discovered by accident. And suddenly we have an England one-day cricket team. "Suddenly" might not be the right word because one-day international cricket has been played since 1971 and England have not won a global tournament in all that time.

But after almost four decades of pick'n'mixing, of sucking and seeing, of botching and fiddling, England have a one-day side that does look the part.

Stephen Brenkley, in the Independent, says Ian Bell's change of approach during his 73 against South Africa at The Oval, was another example of his diffidence to use his "abundant natural gifts."

In short, it was a pleasure to behold. Bell hit 11 fours and a six, taking full advantage of the power plays. His 50 came in a mere 36 balls and there seemed reason to suppose that he could continue in this vein. Dead sheep have their day. But then he changed. The next 23 runs required 41 balls. It was as if he decided that he had taken the venom from the tourists and now "Mr Diffident" was tapping him on the shoulder again.

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