Ahmed and Jacks Rally to Lead England to Thrilling Win Over New Zealand
How long has it been since England made you feel like that?
A victory against one of the world's top teams. A win pulled back from the edge.
Will Jacks and Rehan Ahmed, two talented players in their twenties, stood arm in arm on the pitch as smiles spread from the sidelines.
It was England as they once were.
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Jacks and Ahmed were among the first players of the Bazball era.
Both made their Test debuts during the 2022 tour of Pakistan, when Ben Stokes' team was performing strongly.
Jacks took six wickets in his debut match, while Ahmed claimed five and became England's youngest Test cricketer.
Three and a half years later in Colombo, the same duo propelled England to a T20 World Cup victory over New Zealand, generating a similar sense of momentum.
Previously, Ahmed had edged out Harry Brook in a six-hitting contest among the Test squad in Pakistan and was England's first nighthawk during his debut in Karachi.
Here, he came out to bat with England needing 43 runs from 19 balls and hit his second ball over long-on for six, reigniting the chase.
Jacks responded by striking Glenn Phillips for a six and followed with two fours, before Ahmed effectively sealed the win by hitting Mitchell Santner over the rope at long-off.
From facing a momentum-breaking defeat, England secured a fifth consecutive win to carry forward.
"Baz actually sent one of the walkie talkie messages downstairs, saying 'tell Reh to bat like Sehwag'," Ahmed explained – referencing India's aggressive former opener Virender Sehwag.
It has been a long time since it felt that straightforward. Those words could not be more 2022.
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The energetic spark Ahmed and Jacks provided had been missing from England in recent months.
"Weak men" in Australia. Noosa. A team’s entire identity challenged.
Something at this World Cup feels more like a return to the past.
McCullum appears well-suited to helping build something with a talented, sometimes inspirational, captain. That is a place England have certainly been before.
"This group is the era of Harry Brook as white-ball captain," Jacks said.
"He has got us to play a certain way and the environment around the group is absolutely brilliant.
"Hopefully everyone can see we are having fun and are approaching the game in the right way."
This was England's best win since the third Test against India last summer – the week of Jofra Archer's return in whites, Rishabh Pant's cartwheeling off stump, and Shoaib Bashir's charge towards the Lord's Grandstand with a bandaged finger. How long ago does that feel?
Most importantly, England are finding ways to win here after a difficult winter – a hallmark of McCullum's first year in charge.
In those early days, they conceded 553 runs but still defeated New Zealand in a whirlwind performance by Jonny Bairstow.
There was the chase of 378 against India, and the win on the flattest pitch Rawalpindi had ever seen.
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At this World Cup, they have escaped against Nepal, narrowly beaten Scotland and Italy when under pressure, and defeated Sri Lanka with one of the great individual performances.
This marks a welcome change for a side that squandered opportunities in Australia.
"If you can get yourself out of some tricky positions and end up winning games it does wonders for your confidence," Jacks said.
"There's no better team than one that fights and finds a way of winning."
This is not to say England have been flawless – nor that all past struggles are forgotten.
There remains uncertainty over McCullum's future as coach, even after this run to the last four.
The Test victory in Hyderabad last year, followed by four heavy defeats, also reminds that one should not get carried away.
Harry Brook's team now leave Sri Lanka – a country that has been a sanctuary over recent weeks with six T20 wins from six – heading to India and the semi-finals.
There they could face the co-hosts, West Indies, or South Africa – the tournament's three most formidable teams. There are only so many times one can return to the well.
"Everyone knows about India and the storyline that brings," Jacks said.
"It could also be West Indies and they have beaten us in Mumbai.
"We know how tricky that will be. We will be watching that game on Sunday. We will be prepared. We go in with optimism."
That optimism has been drained in recent months. For many, it will take time to return.
Jacks, however, spoke with a sparkle in his eye – the look of a team beginning to believe in themselves again – and dismissed concerns over the lack of straightforward wins.
"We've won six out of seven games and we've qualified for a semi-final," he said.
"At the end of the day, no one really cares. We obviously want to play well in them but we're not gutted we haven't played a perfect game.
"What we've done well is the key moments - we've kept a calm and clear head and we've managed to get those rewards."
For now, it is working. It is a welcome return to the good times.
