So much so, in fact, that captain Jos Buttler and head coach Brendon McCullum may even be able to select from a fully fit squad for their Group B opener, with all 15 players taking part in their first training session at Pakistan’s National Academy on Wednesday.
Otherwise, a break in Abu Dhabi between tours appears to have helped the remaining injury doubts, with the groin issue Duckett suffered during the final ODI against India – the most worrying on the list – not deemed as bad as first feared after further scans.
Ben Duckett (groin), Jofra Archer (hand), Jamie Smith (calf), Brydon Carse (toe) all picked up knocks on the trip, while Jacob Bethell saw his winter ended by a hamstring injury.
But it may in time prove to be the sensible course of action, even if England will still need to perform a handbrake turn on their ODI form – eight defeats from their last 11 outings – to challenge for the one piece of men’s silverware they are yet to win.
England begin their Champions Trophy campaign against Australia in bustling Lahore on Saturday and while recent results have set alarm bells ringing, there is growing optimism that a previously lengthy injury list is at least beginning to ease.
