England will face India in the final match in the round-robin stage of the Carlton Mid Tri-Series knowing that the winner of their shootout will go on to face Australia in the final. 

England cast aside India in their meeting earlier in the series, but after MS Dhoni’s men were washed out of their second match against Australia, the single point gained has pushed them back into contention.

Stuart Broad has been finding his feet somewhat through the series following his long injury lay-off and is still to take a wicket after the three matches played, but insists he's not far from his best.

"I had a good time myself working on one-day skills, and actually I feel like I have delivered my plan okay," said Broad.

"I've obviously not taken the wickets that I want to but I feel like I'm actually delivering what's in my mind. The way one-day cricket is now, wickets will come to you in a short time.

“You've seen a few sliced off to point and a few slower balls get hit straight up. When it's your day, it's your day and you've got to cash in.

"But also I know as a player I do go through these little periods where I don't pick up wickets in a couple of games, and then I take a handful. Hopefully come semi-final final time at the World Cup and it will be my chance to shine."

This series has seen Chris Woakes shine with the ball, taking six wickets in his role as an opening, strike bowler. Where Broad was previously England’s go-to man in that role, he has become content to with his current position. 

“You do like taking the new ball, it's the best time to bowl and the best time to get wickets and set the tone,” he said. 

“But I'm happy with my role. It is a tough role, bowling first-change. You come on seven-eight overs in, and they are having a dart and the ball is not doing anything. It is quite tough.

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"With the balance of the four seamers, using the taller bowlers to try and hit the wicket in that period is a good option. We did it in 2008 when Harmy [Steve Harmison] came out of retirement, and it seemed to work for us. I'm quite happy doing that, just need to find a way to get wickets." 

It isn’t only Chris Woakes who has come into his own during the Tri-Series. Steven Finn, who left the England camp just over a year ago during their fateful tour of Australia, took his maiden ODI five-fer against India, and is playing with rejuvenated energy and vigour.

"The biggest one I have seen is the change in confidence in Finny," added Broad. "The way he has been around the group. He is more chirpy. His head's up a lot more. At nets he looks a lot clearer what he is working on. Great to see him get the five-for at Brisbane. Just rewards for how he has been feeling."

Outside of the main England camp, Harry Gurney has been impressing for England Lions in South Africa. After being part of the senior squad in the Autumn, Gurney has found himself one step away from the side. His left-arm approach has been successful against South Africa A, but Broad has backed the existing seam attack to offer enough variety to trouble India’s dangerous but fallable batsmen.

"All of us are slightly different. As long as we can keep an attacking mindset we will be dangerous. As long as we don't try to protect ourselves, let's keep trying to get a slip in, keep trying to take wickets, that's the only way to go out there,” said Broad.

"Teams have won World Cups without left-armers, [but] you can see even just from T20 stats, left-armers have got records in white-ball cricket. Every team would want one in their team.

“But I think we have enough variety with different heights, each of us has a slightly different slower ball, that sort of thing. We are just looking forward to putting a complete game together. Our fielding has been awesome. We just need the batting and the bowling to come to the party at the same time."

 

Trent Bridge hosts the fourth Royal London One-Day International between England and New Zealand on Wednesday 17 June. Don't miss the chance to take in what promises to be an absorbing contest and secure your seat now.