Sri Lanka vs. England: James Taylor Provides Solution at No. 3

James Taylor has scored back-to-back ODI fifties for England against Sri Lanka. The tourists have kept themselves in the series at 3-2, and his calm, proactive presence at No. 3 has been the major positive.

Taylor batted superbly alongside fellow youngster Joe Root in Pallekele to make a much-needed century stand for the third wicket. England’s struggles in ODI cricket in the past year have been there for all to see, so it was promising to see two talented young batsmen leading the run chase on a difficult pitch.  

The partnership was England’s first to pass the 100 mark in ODI cricket since June 2013, when a certain Jonathan Trott combined with Root to make 105 against South Africa.

Trott last put on the England colours in an ODI in September 2013. He was often lambasted for his slow rate of scoring, but it is undeniable that England have missed the stability his ruthless, mechanical efficiency provided their batting lineup.

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A steadying influence at No. 3 is crucial to building big totals—something England have consistently struggled with.

In pursuit of the right combination, England have frequently chopped and changed their batting order, and that is evidenced by the No. 3 position. England have tried six different batsmen at No. 3 since Trott. In chronological order, they are Root, Ben Stokes, Luke Wright, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell and Moeen Ali.

Root has since established himself further down the order. Stokes has been in awful form with the bat for the past year. Wright and Ballance have disappeared from the side altogether. At 32, Bell looks increasingly likely to give way to youth and focus on Test cricket, and Ali has been moved into the opener position to provide the yin to under-fire captain Alastair Cook’s yang.

So, could Taylor be the answer to the No. 3 conundrum?

The weight of consistent runs and others' lack of form got him into the England side. And "consistent" is the operative word here.

Followers of county cricket will tell you that Taylor’s inclusion is far too late. Playing for Nottinghamshire, he has been the best performer with the bat in the 50-over domestic competition for a few years.

If the Sri Lanka series is an audition for World Cup places, then Taylor has certainly put forward his case extremely well.

In the last two matches, Taylor has shown no signs of nerves. He has batted with energy and enthusiasm to put pressure on fielders with quick singles and to find the gaps all around the wicket.

While England have often looked one-paced and predictable in their batting, the partnership of Taylor and Root on Thursday progressed steadily against an attack they have previously been vulnerable to.

Taylor fell on 68 when he misjudged a pull shot against Thisara Perera and was caught at deep backward square, but his efforts had already put England in a strong position.

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He is an uncomplicated player—capable of scoring runs against any kind of bowling and not reliant on one particular area or shot.

Taylor does not provide the much-fabled acceleration attributed with rival Alex Hales, but, like Trott, his temperament is his selling point. He goes about his business unfazed—simply accumulating runs at a steady pace.

There has been plenty of justified criticism of England’s selection policy, but it seems they have finally, somewhat unwittingly, stumbled upon a solution to one of their many problems.

It is a sign of the times that two impressive performances can solidify a position in the team. With the World Cup just two months away, in-form players are vital. If Taylor can continue to progress, he can nail down the No. 3 spot for the tournament.

It is early, but Taylor has the potential to be more than just a short-term solution. He could be what England really require: a long-term successor to Trott.