Out with the old, in with the new for England

Graeme Swann has urged England to stick with their new-found courage in one-day international cricket.

Swann has long been an advocate of a more attacking approach, and was deeply critical of England in preparation for what turned out to be an embarrassing World Cup campaign earlier this year.

They have since overhauled personnel and tactics, but kept the same captain in Eoin Morgan, and have matched World Cup finalists New Zealand shot for shot in a five-match series which stands at 2-2 with tonight’s (Saturday's) decider in Durham to come.

Three-time Ashes-winning off-spinner Swann has world-beating experience in white-ball cricket too – as part of the team which won this country's only global trophy to date, the ICC World Twenty20 in 2010.

He senses the early World Cup exit has at last provided the wake-up call which will help England play to their potential again.

"Everyone knew it was the most obvious thing in the world we were playing an out-moded, out-dated form of the game,” he said.

"But (there was) the arrogance that saw us stick to our guns and say 'everyone is wrong' – and in that World Cup I think England got justifiably vilified, because they were so stuck in their ways."

England have passed 300 in all four 50-over fixtures against the Kiwis this summer, but Swann believes the key will be to stay true to the new methods if they backfire at any point.

"It will take courage to stick to it," he said.

"But they should take what New Zealand have done as a blueprint.

"There is no way on God's green earth we have a worse talent pool than any other country in the world – we've got these players who, if unleashed and given free rein, can be incredible one-day players."