ENGLAND continued their supreme dominance over Australia in the first Twenty20 international yesterday – and there is real evidence that skills learned in the shorter format helped the tourists to win the Ashes series 3-1.

Traditionalists might struggle to admit it, but batsmen and bowlers are becoming more rounded players because of the necessity to think outside the box in 20-over contests.

One of the key factors in England’s Test match success is their ability to take 20 wickets on a consistent basis.

Players like Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad and Tim Bresnan have all had to adapt their game to deal with marauding batsman.

The variation in their armoury – the only way in which you can be a success in the crash, bang, wallop format – has been there for all to see and their ability to execute bowling plans is testament to their skill.

They all have a Plan B, C and D and, more importantly, they know how to implement it in a match situation.

Bowlers are meant to be cannon fodder in one-day cricket, but they are fighting back and using their new-found skills to great effect in the Test match format.

On the other side of the coin are batsmen who are learning how to play new shots through their ever-expanding stroke-range.

With some players, it seems they can hit the ball wherever they want in the field – almost at will.

The only downside is that some of the players coming through the ranks might feel it necessary to score from every delivery and lose their ability to construct an innings.

Players are becoming fitter, stronger and better in their pursuit of excellence and, with the World Twenty20 Cup and the Ashes urn safely tucked away at Lord’s, it is England who are leading the way in international cricket across all formats.