Five takeaways from the England-Bangladesh series

A near second string top order guided England to a fantastic series win in Bangladesh, thus ending the Tiger's streak of six successive ODI series wins at home. The enviable home record has come against top tier nations, but England continued their aggressive ways that began post the 2015 World Cup, and prevailed over a determined Bangladesh side.

When England came here without Alex Hales, Joe Root and Eoin Morgan and lost out Jason Roy for the deciding ODI, they were forced to accommodate a totally new top 4 for the deciding One Day Match.

Sam Billings and Ben Duckett, two of those four, underlined England's reserve strength that looked all exhausted a year and a half back. While Morgan is assumed to return to the helm for the tour of India, it will be reassuring for England to know that they have a bunch of talented youngsters on the bench.

Bangladesh might be disappointed with the loss, but would do well to understand that they lost to a freakishly strong, upcoming ODI team. They had their own bright spots in the series, not least in the performance of Imrul Kayes, but also vitally promising signs from Nasir Hossain and Sabbir Rahman.

Let us have a look at some of the takeaways from this short bilateral series:

#1 Bangladesh's enviable home record broken

Bangladesh’s winning streak was finally brought to a halt by England

It is surprising that a team in the lower half of the ODI rankings has such an enviable record at home in the past year. The win-loss ratio for Bangladesh since the 2015 World Cup in ODIs stand at 2.60. Only Australia, New Zealand and South Africa have better ratios since the World Cup.

Bangladesh have won 13 of their last 18 matches at home with series wins against Pakistan, India, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Afghanistan. They also whitewashed Zimbabwe at home right before the 2015 World Cup making it six successive series wins at home before this loss against England.

While they would take heart from the fact that England have been playing some exceptional cricket themselves, Bangladesh surely need an inspection or two in the bowling front. Although their premium pace bowler, Mustafizur, was unavailable, they do not have great backup options. Bangladesh will look to up their game to remain above Pakistan and West Indies in the ODI rankings.

#2 Ben Duckett's emergence

Ben Duckett’s performances bode well for the future

The young Ben Duckett was touted to be a brilliant talent ever since his emergence in County Cricket. Yet it was a stint with England Lions that earned him a killer reputation. In a Tri-Series involving Sri Lanka A and Pakistan A in July 2016, Duckett smashed 163* in just 104 balls and followed that up with a double hundred (220*) in just 131 balls, forming an unbeaten second wicket 367 run stand with Daniel Bell-Drummond.

Duckett symbolises everything that England lacked in the 2015 World Cup. His twin fifties in the series means he is a real threat to a lacklustre James Vince, when England selectors sit down to select a team for India. It will be a surprise if Duckett doesn't make the cut after his performance in Bangladesh.

Duckett is an inventive cricketer with a large number of shots in his repertoire. He scores surprisingly quickly without hogging a lot of limelight. Those drives and ramps are going to form a big part of England's future limited-overs plans.

#3 Imrul Kayes’ comeback

Imrul Kayes returned to the Bangladesh side with a bang

Kayes has been in and out of the Bangladesh team ever since his emergence in 2008. Kayes, mostly labelled a Test player, has played 62 ODIs for Bangladesh with an average of 28.75. Notably, he had just one hundred before the start of this series.

All that changed in the past few months. His last six ODI scores read 46, 11, 112, 37, 73 and 76. Add to that the fact that he scored a hundred against a near full strength England bowling attack in their tour match before the first ODI. That his strike rate and shots have improved augers well for a Bangladesh side on the look out for a strong opening partner to Tamim Iqbal.

While Soumya Sarkar will push for a berth at the top, Kayes has made a good claim to occupy that openers place.

#4 Ben Stokes’ revival in ODIs

Ben Stokes finally displayed some of his true batting prowess

Ben Stokes always looked like a limited overs player. A quick bowler capable of bowling above 140kmph with big hitting ability is always in high demand. While Stokes’ talent was unquestionable, his performances with the bat in limited overs cricket did not instill confidence.

Before the home series against Pakistan, since when he has been in better touch, Stokes averaged a low 21.4 in ODIs, with just four half-centuries, two of which came in the series against South Africa. Though he compiled a terrific double hundred in Tests in South Africa his ODI potential seemed unfulfilled.

But since the tour to South Africa, Stokes has averaged 49 with the bat. In Bangladesh, he furthered his claims to that all-rounder spot with a brilliant match-winning hundred and another composed unbeaten 47 to win the series decider. Stokes has looked a different player in this tour and England will bank heavily on him in the upcoming series against India.

#5 Adil Rashid's ODI surge

Rashid proved to be a real handful for the Bangladeshi batsmen

Similar to Stokes, Rashid seemed to be going nowhere with his bowling in ODIs. Moeen Ali had almost booked a spot in the One Day setup which meant Rashid only got chances on turning surfaces as the second tweaker.

In Bangladesh, Rashid picked up two four-wicket hauls and impressed with his turn and flight. That he was a talented leg-spinner was beyond doubt, but the performances at International level did not really portray his real potential until now. He dismissed Bangladesh's key middle order batsman, Mahmudullah in each of the three ODIs and also picked up crucial wickets right through the series.

He ended the series with 10 wickets in 3 games though his economy was on the higher side.

The fact that the pitches in India will suit his leg spin is a huge boost for England. Rashid has a lot of tricks up his sleeve that can prove to be a handful for Indian batsmen.