England in 2015: Nasser Hussain reviews World Cup, Ashes and more

England enjoyed a topsy-turvy 2015, with a dejecting World Cup exit over the winter followed by a thrilling Ashes triumph during the summer.

Sky Cricket expert Nasser Hussain ventured into the Sky Sports News HQ studio to reflect on England's year, examining why they were dumped out in the World Cup group stages and how they regained the urn - and the public's affection - against Australia.

Read Nasser's thoughts below and then hear more from him by watching the video above…

ENGLAND'S WORLD CUP WOES

"They went with a Test match squad to play one-day cricket and they just weren't brave enough, they were playing old-fashioned cricket. We had seen some good young players around - the likes of (Jason) Roy, (Alex) Hales and (Sam) Billings - but they weren't being picked as England were still being very fussy about sticking with Test match players. The Bangladesh game was the lowest of lows, but I think they probably learned that it was time to move on as, since 1992, our cricket in major tournaments has been abysmal."

ANDREW STRAUSS' APPOINTMENT

"I think it was one of the most important changes in English cricket in the last decade to make Andrew the Director of Cricket. I've worked with him, I've played with him and I think he is a good, solid guy who is very sensible. He has come in with a clear idea of what direction he wants to take English cricket in and he's a little bit stubborn, which I think you need to be in that job as if you listen to everyone's opinion you can go round in circles. I think we all like the way [coach] Trevor Bayliss goes about his business but Strauss made that appointment. I think those two have been magnificent."

ENGLAND'S ASHES VICTORY

"It was down to the players. England were becoming a bit unloved as a team, a bit characterless, but this summer they showed lots of character, with Joe Root and Ben Stokes providing a lot of it. There were some great Tests in there - the Trent Bridge Test where Stuart Broad took 8-15 and Australia were bowled out for 60 with Bumble on commentary was one of my highlights. Anyone who was there won't forget that spell of bowling. A lot of it goes down to Cook, though, and the way he stuck around after Australia. He's not an emotional man outwardly but he was almost in tears at the win."

HOPES FOR 2016

"England's plan A is excellent, we saw that in the summer. We've got four seamers who have bowled brilliantly this year, especially Broad and James Anderson on either turgid pitches or spicy ones, and they are backed up by Moeen Ali. That will be the case in the English summer when you don't need two frontline spinners - but they'll need two frontline spinners in India. It doesn't have to be another Shane Warne or Graeme Swann and it could be Moeen, who is spinning the ball in South Africa, and Adil Rashid but you don't want it to be just those two."

England's tour of South Africa continues at 7.30am on Wednesday live on Sky Sports 2 with day five of the first Test in Durban. The second Test, in Cape Town, begins at 8am on Saturday on the same channel.

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