Wednesday's five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka was the type of performance which suggests that England could compete at next year's 50-over World Cup.
Jos Buttler smashed 55 from 37 balls, with Joe Root anchoring the innings with an unbeaten 48 as the tourists chased down 236 in a rain-affected 35-overs-per-side game.
Having fallen to disappointing defeats in the previous two encounters, it was a morale-boosting win, but not one which answered all the doubters seven matches away from the tournament's kickoff.
Axed batsman Kevin Pietersen, who has recently pleaded with Alastair Cook to resign, took to Twitter to post his suggested lineup for the showcase in Australia and New Zealand, which begins in February 2015.
My WC team - Ali, Hales, Bell, Root, Morgan(c), Bopara, Buttler, Stokes, Broad, Tredders, Jimmy.
— Kevin Pietersen (@KP24) December 3, 2014
Now, Sports Mole takes its turn to give England's selectors some advice by naming its World Cup XI.
Openers
England's biggest decision over the next few months will be whether to persist with Cook as captain. The 29-year-old has thus far maintained the public backing of the selectors and insisted that he will not resign.
This stance can only continue for so long, though, if the left-hander is not scoring runs. If he is not winning games as a captain, or contributing as a batsman, there can be no place for him in the team.
Cook's spot at 25 makes him the highest-placed Englishman in the ODI batting rankings, but that is a triumph of longevity rather than excellence, having been one of the only regulars in an ever-changing side.
He has scored just one half-century in his last 19 ODI innings, and is without a hundred since 2012, so focusing on his Test form, which has dipped alongside his limited-overs game, could be best for all parties.
England will get a taste of life without Cook in the fourth ODI with Sri Lanka in Colombo on Sunday, when Eoin Morgan will take on the mantle, with the current captain banned because of a slow over rate.
In Cook's absence, Moeen Ali will be joined by Alex Hales in an opening partnership which seems to give England the dynamism that they have been lacking to take full advantage of the first power play.
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Nottinghamshire batsman Hales has proven that he can perform against international-class bowlers in Twenty20 action, and has long been overdue a run at the top of the order in the longer white-ball format.
Moeen has nailed down his spot courtesy of knocks of 119 and 58 in the subcontinent, while his better-than-part-time off-spin offers England an important bowling option which helps balance the side.
Middle order
Ian Bell was dropped to accommodate Hales for the match in Hambantota and may struggle to force his way back into the side, with Morgan's promotion to full-time skipper guaranteeing his retention.
The 32-year-old remains a fine and technically- gifted Test player, but has never really become a match-winner for England across a 150-game ODI career in which he has made only three centuries.
Although Morgan is suffering from a rather long slump, he has double that number and is a feared force. Arguably England's one world-class ODI player, he could be reinvigorated by taking on the captaincy.
Elsewhere, all-rounder Ravi Bopara has reestablished himself as a key player upon his recall to the XI, making the decision to drop him for the home series with India earlier this year all the more confusing.
The Essex star gives the middle order some flexibility as he is capable of batting anywhere from three to seven, which will hopefully allow England to time the arrival of explosive wicketkeeper Buttler to perfection.
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Root has not set the world alight outside of the five-day game, but is inked in as a future captain and is likely to be exposed to as much international cricket as possible across all three formats until then.
Many also expect Ben Stokes to be a pillar of England sides going forward, but his bowling cannot be trusted under the ODI fielding restrictions, and he has not shown his undoubted batting potential as yet.
Another Nottinghamshire star craving a 50-over chance is James Taylor, who has been the most prolific match-winner in domestic cricket over the past three seasons, and certainly enjoys the big stage.
The 24-year-old stroke maker, who has only made ODI appearances against Scotland and Ireland, is with the squad in Sri Lanka and will surely be given a long-awaited opportunity before the series is over.
His 12 centuries in 101 List A games is a great conversion rate, and he is a regular rope clearer despite his diminutive stature. He has excelled for his county and the Lions - this is Taylor's next deserved step.
Bowlers
Having been deemed "unselectable" and sent home from last winter's Ashes whitewash, Steven Finn has worked hard to correct problems with his run-up and has come back a more complete bowler.
The Middlesex seamer has taken 64 ODI wickets at an average of 28.73 and offers England an X-factor with his pace and bounce, which will be suited to the Southern Hemisphere wickets next spring.
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Finn could take the new ball alongside Jimmy Anderson, who is England's best bowler and has too often been overlooked for the shorter formats, once the well-rested Lancastrian returns to the fold.
However, Stuart Broad should be left at home. The T20 captain has had his fitness problems of late, and recently underwent knee surgery, so needs to be managed carefully in order to prolong his Test career.
Chris Woakes has come into the side and done well. He would be a preferable option to Harry Gurney or Chris Jordan as he extends the batting lineup and also offers a genuine ability to bowl at the death.
Finally, as it has been for England since Graeme Swann hung up his boots, a leading spinner continues to be a problem. James Tredwell is the incumbent, but has only ever been considered a short-term fix.
The Kent tweaker, 32, has a very reasonable ODI record - averaging 26.68 in 41 matches - but there is a growing sense that he has been figured out, and he was wicketless on last year's tour to Australia.
Instead, the leg breaks of Adil Rashid would offer Morgan a different option to Moeen's off-spin. The Yorkshireman has improved vastly since his last cap in 2009, and would also strengthen the lower order.
Sports Mole's England World Cup XI: Moeen, Hales, Root, Taylor, Morgan (c), Bopara, Buttler (wk), Rashid, Woakes, Anderson, Finn
Joe Fish
