I NEVER thought I would see the day when the chief executive of Cricket Australia admitted he would be looking at the county cricket system for tips on how to improve his country’s own domestic competition in the wake of their Ashes hammering.

But James Sutherland would not be doing his job if he did not take a leaf out of the old enemy’s book.

The strength in depth in and around the England set-up is incredible.

Not only have Andy Flower’s side virtually retained the Ashes, but they are also the Twenty20 champions of the world.

They have numerous match-winners within their team - names like Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook, Kevin Pietersen, James Anderson and Graeme Swann trip off the tongue.

But what has been most impressive about this England team is the way different players have come into the team and made key impacts.

When Stuart Broad was ruled out for the rest of the series, Chris Tremlett seemed to effortlessly step into his shoes while Tim Bresnan, who has come in for Steven Finn in this Test match, has proved to be the hero of the second innings at the MCG.

Then there is Jonathan Trott who was pressed into action in the deciding Test match of the last Ashes, scored a ton and now has the highest average of any England batsman in history almost 18 months later.

Paul Collingwood - so often the savour of the team in recent years - looks likely to face the chop imminently and the man waiting in the wings is, arguably, the best limited overs player in the world.

Eoin Morgan already has a Test match hundred to his name and he is the latest talent off the seemingly endless conveyer belt.

The future is certainly bright for England.