England return to Headingley Carnegie tomorrow for the first time in a one-day international since their nadir against Sri Lanka in 2006 with a side who are unrecognisable in mood, personnel or expectation. With every chance of securing the NatWest Series with two games still to play, the question must be asked: where has it all gone right?

Suddenly, the bowlers are giving penetration and control, ably supported by reliable fielding, and a strong batting order is posting winning scores.

Paul Collingwood said that it would take time to impose his style on a young squad, but players are beginning to show the self-belief that he values above all other qualities.

They have taken a 3-1 lead over India while Kevin Pietersen’s biggest contribution has been the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar and Andrew Flintoff has yet to find his timing at the crease. Flintoff has been exceptional with the ball, but the stars of the first four games have been Ian Bell and James Anderson, both 25, and Stuart Broad, 21.

Michael Vaughan’s flawed policy of “back to basics” that resulted in a predictably stultifying World Cup campaign has been replaced by the “intent” under Collingwood. That is the word chosen by the captain. Whatever decision a player takes, he wants it implemented with 100 per cent commitment.

India’s disappointing performances make an important caveat. They should not be behind after winning all four tosses. Only in Bristol, with short boundaries, have their celebrated batsmen fired together and the absence of a genuine all-rounder means that the team will always be light in one area.

Most conspicuously, their sieve-like fielding has been woeful, set in unhappy context alongside England’s safe hands and athleticism. Rough outfields back home explain the reluctance to dive, and the somewhat ginger efforts when they do go down, but they will start with a handicap until the problem is addressed.

They were so close to levelling the series at 2-2 on Thursday night, but the presence of three genuine all-rounders in England’s top six, Matt Prior included, allowed the streetwise Ravi Bopara to bat as low as No 8 when there are those who believe that he is good enough to be a No 3.

Bopara had already shown that he can bat under pressure in the World Cup game against Sri Lanka in March, when he took England to within one ball of victory. So it was inevitable that Broad, who had already claimed his first four-wicket haul for England earlier in the game, took the eye this time.

Chris Broad said yesterday that his son would be better off playing for the A team in India before Christmas rather than carrying drinks on a senior Test tour to Sri Lanka.

However, the case for promotion may soon be unanswerable.

The Test party will be announced after the five-match one-day series in Sri Lanka, allowing selectors to make up-to-the-minute decisions based on form and fitness. If Broad Jr still ranks behind Chris Tremlett and Ryan Sidebottom, then he is closing in.

He has become a good foil for Anderson, who has led the attack superbly in the second half of the season. The Lancashire fast bowler has taken 11 wickets in the present series, his fuller length and swing complementing the bounce of Broad.

As for Bell, his hundred at the Rose Bowl in the opening game is the second-best innings in a one-day game for England this year, after Collingwood’s 120 not out against Australia in Melbourne. The new captain, meanwhile, goes from strength to strength. Lord Morris of Handsworth has decided not to accept nomination for the chairmanship of the ECB. Giles Clarke and Michael Soper tied with nine votes each after the first ballot.

Headingley squads

England: P D Collingwood (captain), A N Cook, M J Prior, I R Bell, K P Pietersen, O A Shah, A Flintoff, R S Bopara, A D Mascarenhas, S C J Broad, C T Tremlett, J Lewis, M S Panesar, J M Anderson.

India: R Dravid (captain), S R Tendulkar, S C Ganguly, K D Karthik, G Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, M S Dhoni, R R Powar, R P Sharma, Piyush Chawla, R V Uthappa, A B Agarkar, Zaheer Khan, M M Patel, R P Singh.

Umpires: Alim Dar (Pakistan) and N J Llong.

Match referee: R S Mahanama (Sri Lanka).

Tuning in: Television: Live on Sky Sports 2 from 10am. Highlights, on Five 7.15pm-8pm.

Radio: BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra: Live coverage from 10am.

Weather: Light showers and a moderate westerly wind, maximum temperature 20C (68F).

Explore Cricket

• Counties