Don't panic... This England team are not chokers and the future's bright, writes James Taylor

Hard to swallow: Ben Stokes has no answers as England suffer at the hands of Pakistan in Cardiff on Wednesday
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James Taylor16 June 2017

Do England have the nerve to deal with the biggest matches? People have started to ask questions about them after their surprise defeat by Pakistan in the Champions Trophy semi-finals.

It followed the World Twenty20 last year and the Champions Trophy four years ago, when England established a winning position in the final only to lose.

If this becomes a trend, England will start to develop a reputation, but I believe we are some way from that. The future is bright for captain Eoin Morgan and his team.

For the batsmen, it is about taking the right options at the right times — something India have done extremely well throughout this tournament. The Indian batsmen adapt quickly to the conditions and the situation of the game, and work out the best time to attack and when to consolidate.

England’s default setting is to go after the bowling, whatever the state of the game. On many occasions it will work. Don’t forget the win over Australia at Edgbaston last Saturday. England were 35 for three, chasing 278, but Morgan and Ben Stokes counter-attacked and it paid off unbelievably as they won by 40 runs.

It might not seem so after a disappointing defeat, but England have made so much progress in the last two years.

I was part of the squad for the one-day series against New Zealand in 2015, when the team scored 408 for nine in the first match at Edgbaston. It was all gung-ho back then as we batted in fifth gear for the whole innings. Nowadays, these players are much better at going up and down the gears.

I notice there has been a lot of discussion about the conditions in Cardiff and whether they should have favoured England more than they did. The ICC are in charge of pitch preparation and I understand why they are keen to have a level playing field for a global tournament.

But I would ask this: would we ever see a seam-friendly wicket in a tournament in the subcontinent? I very much doubt it.

In Pictures | England vs Pakistan | Champions Trophy semi-final

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The fact is that the used wicket in Cardiff played into Pakistan’s hands. Players from Asia grow up on these types of wickets, but they are tricky for players elsewhere. The ball does not come quickly on to the bat, making it difficult to time. It is hard to find rhythm at the crease.

Compare that pitch with the one at Edgbaston yesterday, when India beat Bangladesh to reach the final. It was far easier for batsmen to play with freedom and score quickly. If England had played there, instead of Cardiff, I bet they would be in the final.

I do not want to take anything away from Pakistan, who played brilliantly, but it is no use denying that the conditions gave them a better chance. When England are hosting the competition, some may find that unusual.

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