Sunday 22 November 2015 11:39, UK
England coach Trevor Bayliss is hoping the one-day international series victory over Pakistan will act as a springboard for Twenty20 World Cup success.
Jos Buttler was the undisputed star of England's series-clinching win over Pakistan, hitting a century from just 46 balls - the fastest in England's one-day international history and joint seventh on the world list.
England's 3-1 triumph, after being beaten by six wickets in the first match, also included outstanding performances from openers Alex Hales and Jason Roy.
Each hit maiden ODI centuries, and every batsman in the top six has passed 50 during the series.
Roy's 102 on Friday at the Dubai International Stadium set the stage for Buttler to hit 10 fours and eight sixes in a sensational display.
It powered England to 355 for five - Joe Root also made 71 in a stand of 140 with Roy - and they then bowled their hosts out for 271 in 40.4 overs, with spinners Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali taking three wickets each.
Bayliss believes team spirit, as well as collective ability, is a key factor.
They should have a lot of confidence... going into the three Twenty20 matches... It's another step on the way to that World Cup in March and April.
"They're enjoying their cricket. They're enjoying each other's company and each other's success - and it's showing out on the field," he said.
"There's been some fantastic innings in this series.
"Root and (James) Taylor have also done extremely well - everyone in the top six has contributed more than once.
"So too have the bowlers, and it's added up to a fine performance."
Bayliss believes it is a success which demonstrates England's white-ball potential - with the ICC World Twenty20 a high-profile assignment to come in India in March.
He added: "It's great to win away from home, especially on the sub-continent against a team like Pakistan who are playing in conditions they know very well.
"They should have a lot of confidence from the way they've played, going into the three Twenty20 matches - knowing they can play in these conditions against this quality of opposition.
"It's another step on the way to that World Cup in March and April."
The first of three matches in the shortest format will take place back in Dubai next Thursday.
"We want to play this Twenty20 series and win that as well as we possibly can, but it's also a bit of a testing ground," Bayliss said.
"We've got a few players that haven't been involved in this series that could get a run in the Twenty20 series."
There is a longer-term ODI objective too - the 2019 World Cup on home soil, in which England hope they can at last break their duck in a global 50-over tournament.
"Our goal is obviously a World Cup in four years' time, but there's no use thinking about that right now," Bayliss said.
"We've got a lot of hard work to do between now and then.
"Yes, it's good to win matches and series like we did, but we can't rest on our laurels."
Watch the first match of the T20 Series between Pakistan and England on Thursday, live on Sky Sports 2 HD from 3.30pm.
