England Denied a Longer Look at Their ODI Future as Rain Rules in Dublin

In the end, the rain won at Malahide, Dublin. At 56 for four after being put into bat, Ireland were wobbling against a new-look England. Then the heavens opened, and that was it for the day.

The result, or lack of one, in Dublin was a huge disappointment for both sides.

The hosts, given a rare opportunity to play a Full Member of the International Cricket Council on their own patch, would have been desperate to make a mark. 

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A pitch offering help to the seam bowlers meant the Irish top order did not even get the chance to land a punch to bloody the nose of their neighbours.

England, meanwhile, would like to have seen their young XI given the opportunity to finish what they had started in the 18 overs of play that were possible.

With many of the regulars—or at least those who were on duty during a disastrous World Cup campaign that ended at the group stage—not selected due to the close proximity to the recent tour of the West Indies, it was a chance for some fresh faces to lay down a marker.

In the end, only two of the five debutants selected got to do anything of real note.

Mark Wood was handed one of the two new balls used in the one-day cricket these days. A damp Dublin was a far cry from the Caribbean, where the Durham paceman had been an unused member of England's squad for the three-Test trip.

While his five overs went for 25 runs, making him the most expensive of the four bowlers used by captain James Taylor, there were some signs of real promise. Journalist Chris Stocks was certainly impressed, judging by his tweet:

With the weather intervening, Wood did not have time to get bored, meaning his imaginary horse was not needed to keep him entertained:

Still, in his 30 legal deliveries (the 25-year-old had to do a little extra work, having also sent down three wides and a no ball in his spell), there was good pace and some lateral movement.

David Willey, the other new boy to get a go with the ball, does not have the speed of Wood through the air. He does, however, bring a variation to the attack as a left-armer—these days, they are highly coveted.

England experimented before the World Cup with Harry Gurney, another left-arm seamer who had impressed on the county circuit. But, when push came to shove, the selectors opted to leave the Nottinghamshire bowler out of their final 15-man squad for the tournament.

Willey may have earned international honours earlier in his career had a back injury not seriously hampered his progress.

The issue forced him to pull out of an England Performance Programme tour to Australia in the winter of 2013 and continued to hamper his progress for his county, Northamptonshire, last year.

Yet his all-round abilities (he averages over 20 with the bat in all forms of cricket at domestic level) make him an ideal 50-over player.

England should show some patience and try to mould him into their own version of James Faulkner—a left-armer lacking in pace but able to out-smart batsmen, as well as a useful hitter down the batting order. 

The 25-year-old believes his bowling can make an impact at the highest level, telling Ali Martin of The Guardian: "I think everyone saw how successful left-armers were in the World Cup, and I know I can swing a white ball."

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Willey—who followed in the footsteps of his father, Peter, in earning an England cap—did move the white ball in his four overs against Ireland, during which time he snared the wicket of Andy Balbirnie. Jason Roy, another debutant on display, held on to an excellent catch at second slip to leave Ireland four down.

The bad weather denied the visitors from pressing home such a promising position, though Wood and Willey did at least make the most of their limited time on the field.

England's selectors will now have to consider if the majority of the squad sent to Ireland should remain for the five-match ODI series against New Zealand, which takes place in June.

Some will understandably have to make way for returning regulars but very few players can be certain of their places right now.

Jos Buttler and Joe Root are definite starters but not many more can feel certain of being picked. That includes Eoin Morgan, who captained them in the World Cup, and the fast-bowling duo of James Anderson and Stuart Broad.

England must now look to the future, not continue to be held back by the past.