Stand-in England captain Moeen Ali feels other teams will fear facing his side at the upcoming T20 World Cup, starting in Australia later in the month after the 4-3 series win over Pakistan on Sunday. After being inserted into batting first, England amassed a massive 209/3 and then restricted Pakistan to 142/8 to win the series decider.
"We're really happy to win this series and we go to Australia in a really good position, but I don't think we're favourites for the World Cup. If I'm honest I don't feel that way at all, but I know we are a very dangerous team to play and other teams will fear playing us. But I still think Australia and India are the two favourites," said Moeen after the match ended.
Pakistan were in the lead with 3-2 at the end of fifth T20I. But England made a great comeback from behind to win the last two matches and eventually, the series. "We were disappointed in the end, because looking back I think if we'd been really on it we'd probably have won (the series) 6-1. But we are in a really good position. We had two must-win games and the way we have come back to win so comfortably was amazing to see," added Moeen.
Moeen went on to talk highly of his side's depth in the squad, who stood up to the occasion in absence of players like Jos Buttler, Liam Livingstone and Ben Stokes in the playing eleven.
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"We have players to come in who can make a difference but this shows the depth we have in our squad as well. The batters put on a really good score."
"You could easily lose confidence with the bat after the two games when we didn't chase totals down but credit to the boys for the way they played. Our bowling was outstanding again. Throughout the series I think we bowled really well."
England's young batter Harry Brook was the leading-run scorer in the series with 238 runs at an average of 79.33 and was adjudged 'Player of the Series'. "I have just tried to hit the ball straight and play the ball on its merit. I look to hit straight first but if there is a gap then I will try and manipulate the field."
"We'll see if I play when we get to the T20 World Cup but all the lads are looking forward to getting out there and getting going," said Brook.
In the series decider, left-hander Dawid Malan slammed 78 not out off 47 balls to set the base for England's win at Lahore on Sunday and was named 'Player of the Match'.
"We saw this as a final so to be able to do it under pressure and put on a big score like that was fantastic for us as a batting unit. Our bowlers learnt from the lessons - bowling into the wicket, changing pace - and did fantastically well to defend our total," said Malan.
England will now travel to Australia to prepare for the T20 World Cup, with three T20s against hosts Australia on October 9, 12 and 14. It will be followed by a warm-up match against Pakistan on October 17 before starting their Super 12 campaign against Afghanistan in Perth on October 22.
Winning series decider over Pakistan a confidence boost for England ahead of T20 World Cup: Mott
England's white-ball head coach Matthew Mott believes the victory in the T20I series decider over Pakistan is a massive confidence boost for his team ahead of the T20 World Cup in Australia later this month.
After being inserted into batting first, England amassed a massive 209/3 and then restricted Pakistan to 142/8 to win the series decider by 67 runs and clinch the seven-match series 4-3.
"We certainly came over here for the seven-match series with a really clear plan to take it deep and see if we could rotate our squad through, leading obviously to a World Cup. I couldn't have asked for much more to be honest, I think Moeen Ali, in particular, has captained extremely well."
"He's put a lot of faith in different players, and had some debutants come in and do well. So from our perspective, to have pretty much a final-type atmosphere tonight and come out and play so well gives us a lot of confidence going into that World Cup," said Mott to Sky Sports after the match ended.
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Asked for an update on the fitness of players like regular captain Jos Buttler and Liam Livingstone, Mott said the duo are on course to be fit for the showpiece event.
"Liam Livingstone is tracking well. He's back in England now, left this morning, and he'll be fine. He's just got to get some miles in the legs and he should be right to start when we get out there.
"I think Jos has been conservative. He was chomping at the bit for a game at the back-end here, but the risk-reward wasn't quite there. He's going to play a pivotal role in the World Cup and Moeen has done an exceptional job with the leadership."
"We're pretty confident where we're at. It was a lot of moving parts for this tour, getting everyone ready, but we've welcomed back some world-class players and we'll hit the shores of Australia in a couple of days."
Mott remarked that young Harry Brook, Ben Duckett and Dawid Malan have made a greater push for themselves through their performances in Pakistan to be taken seriously for England's playing eleven in T20 World Cup.
"There's been a lot (of players who have advanced their cases). "Harry Brook has had some really good hit-outs and done well. He's looked really composed out there and seems to just pick the right times to go for his boundaries."
"Duckett has been exceptional and played spin really well. He's asked a few different questions. He sort of turned the momentum for us after the early games where spin was playing a big part of it. Malan was outstanding (in series decider). I thought that was a brilliant knock in a final-like atmosphere."
"And all the bowlers. We came over here with some injury clouds but we got through it. (Mark) Wood got through a few games, (Chris) Woakes got through a couple, so we're building nicely with that depth we're after for that World Cup."
Mott signed off by admitting there will be tinkering with England's playing eleven throughout the T20 World Cup. "We've (himself and Buttler) looked at that first XI quite a bit, and there's always a bit of tinkering. There's form that comes into it, we've also got a series against Australia first and foremost. So we'll get an opportunity to have a really good look at how that balance goes."
"I think in Australia as well, there are some different conditions out there and we might tinker slightly throughout the tournament depending on who we play. But we're pretty close to that first XI and then you reassess from there."
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England will now travel to Australia to prepare for the T20 World Cup, with three T20Is against hosts' and defending champions Australia on October 9, 12 and 14.
It will be followed by a warm-up match against Pakistan on October 17 before starting their Super 12 campaign in the mega event against Afghanistan in Perth on October 22.
