How Black Caps helped stoke England's Ashes hype

Joe Root, left, celebrates with Ben Stokes after England beat New Zealand by seven wickets in the 4th ODI. Photo / AP

From 'pretenders' to 'startling renaissance'.

Rewind to this time last week where New Zealand had just taken a 2-1 lead with a performance full of class in the third ODI. The British press reported how England were "taught a lesson" by the Black Caps with a far more composed style of attacking cricket.

Now their tune has changed as the Ashes approaches.

Jonny Bairstow's match winning knock of 83 sealed a thrilling series win for England who recovered from 45-5 to chase down a revised target of 192 in a rain affected fifth ODI at Durham. Few New Zealanders could be too down hearted with the loss as they contributed admirably to one of the most entertaining cricket series in modern times.

Records tumbled across the board and now England, buoyed by the manner of their first ODI series home win since 2012, have switched their attention firmly to the Ashes and boy are they excited.

June 15: English press: 'Pretenders' taught lesson by Black Caps

The final match of the Black Caps tour of England is a T20 match on Wednesday morning at Old Trafford - something that English cricket lovers might need reminding about.

Stephen Brenkley's headline in the Independent said: "Australia take note: England have been born again", with a caption below the article's picture of England players celebrating reading: "Brilliant Bairstow seals a series victory that makes the perfect Ashes entrée."

Brenkley added: "England are alive again. Their startling renaissance was confirmed in the grandest manner at the climax to a stirring one-day series which possessed the most elusive quality of all memorable productions: it left you wanting more.

"Of the team which created an improbable last-gasp victory on Saturday to take the series against New Zealand by 3-2, only three, four at most, can be expected to face Australia in the first Test in a little more than two weeks. This goes beyond personnel, however. This is about mood, belief and perseverance."

Jonathan Liew in the Telegraph wrote: "For a cricketing public sated on this feast of a one-day series - more! more! again! louder! - a return to the staid old ways is entirely out of the question. How can England bottle this swagger and vigour and unleash it on the poor unsuspecting Australians?"

BBC Sport has already started to jibe Australia with quotes from their own former star Jason Gillespie, who's labelled the current team as a "Dad's Army."

Gillespie was interviewed for the England job after Peter Moores' exit and an article leading with his claim is just beginning to stir up the sledging war before a ball has been bowled.

England will be lead by their new Aussie head coach Trevor Bayliss for the forthcoming series and Aussies talking up England's chances will rile up even the most reserved Australian.

Jonathan Agnew, BBC Sport's cricket correspondent said: "England's one-day cricket has undergone an utterly remarkable transformation in the space of just five matches.
"To go from the dismal lows of the World Cup only three months ago, to beating the finalists of that tournament with exhilarating, confident cricket is quite extraordinary.

"England have beaten New Zealand at their own game: they have played in an attacking, enterprising way, abandoning the caution that characterised the ill-fated Peter Moores era and giving their young players free rein to show their skills."

Are the Black Caps partly responsible for England's resurgence? It would appear so.