England building a squad for the future – Vaughan

The hosts of next year’s ICC Cricket World Cup are currently the number one side in the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings and have won their last eight multi-game bilateral series.

They have the chance to seal another in the fourth ODI against Sri Lanka on Saturday, a series which has been used to blood a few unfamiliar faces – including fast bowler Olly Stone.

Vaughan believes that England’s strength in depth is one of the main reasons they’re considered favourites to win next year’s World Cup and the side could well dominate the white-ball game for years to come.

“England have got a lot of depth,” Vaughan told the BBC.“We’ve spoken about it for a couple of years - the World Cup next year is a great opportunity.

“I see the group that they’ve got now – probably taking away Eoin Morgan – they’ll all be a part of the World Cup after the one in England next year. I don’t see teams around the world with the depth that England have, they have an amass of talent with the white ball.”

Key to England’s success with the white-ball in recent times has been all-rounder Chris Woakes, who has proven his worth with both bat and ball. Vaughan has crowned Woakes as the main man of England’s one-day bowling attack.

“I think with the white ball he’s the best,” added Vaughan. “If you look at his record over the last year it’s incredible: he averages 41 with the bat, 23 with the ball.

“He’s the tone setter. You have opening batsmen that are sent out there to set the tone in the game and vice versa, with the ball in hand you’ve got to have bowlers who set the tone on the field, and that’s by bowling dots and getting wickets.

“You feel that when he gets the white ball in hand he’s got more confidence. At the minute, with the white ball, Chris Woakes is by far England’s best seamer.”