This video can not be played England survive scare as Nepal narrowly miss out on shock win.

England have a recent history of hair-raising starts to World Cups. They were pummeled by New Zealand in Ahmedabad in 2023 and smashed around by Scotland at the last T20 World Cup until rain intervened. This was something else.

In front of thousands of Nepalese fans at the famous Wankhede Stadium - the ground where England have produced statistically their worst 50-over bowling performance in history and suffered their heaviest T20 defeat - they were one boundary from defeat. The impact of a loss to Nepal does not bear thinking about for an England team under the most intense pressure.

They did not do much wrong when their opponents were seemingly charging towards a seismic victory, with Nepal's inspired batting deserving of huge credit. But the tightrope coach Brendon McCullum and captain Harry Brook are walking is so precarious after England's Ashes defeat and Brook's Wellington escapades, a defeat here may have sent them tumbling to new depths.

The walkie talkie McCullum was seen talking into during Nepal's chase could have become the equivalent of Ruben Amorim's tactics board in the rain during Manchester United's embarrassing Carabao Cup loss at fourth-tier Grimsby Town in August. Instead, it may be a hint at a coach who is able to change.

Reducing McCullum's coaching to its most recognisable image - feet up, sunglasses in place, watching motionless from a balcony somewhere in the world - would always be wrong. Carlo Ancelotti has won more Champions Leagues than Pep Guardiola, no matter how expressive he is or otherwise. But McCullum is the coach who has always asked players to rely on instinct. He has done most of his work in the background, leaving his players to make the calls in the middle. Here, he was sending suggestions to his players when the situation squeezed.

"That's something we've been doing recently - that dressing room to dugout communication," said all-rounder Will Jacks afterwards. "It is so messages can get run out to the captain or to the guys who are batting in the middle. It's just an easier way of spreading the message."

England's white-ball outfit appeared too stubborn in their first months under McCullum last year. With a bowling attack of Brydon Carse, Jamie Overton, Mark Wood, and Jofra Archer, they were thrashed by 150 runs in a T20 on this ground a year ago.

They arrived in India trying to attack with right-arm express pace and that continued through the Champions Trophy where they did not win a game. Sam Curran will never have the pace of Wood nor the height of Overton, but against Nepal, in defending 10 from the final over, he justified his return from the wilderness. Some will say England were rescued by the man they discarded. You can also credit them for realising the mistake.

Curran has a strong recent record bowling at the death. He defended seven from the last five balls for Oval Invincibles in The Hundred in 2024. Against Nepal he was rewarded for his plan of yorkers in his final two overs.

Brook gave a hint at England locating their senses when he spoke to the media on Friday. He recalled Liam Dawson - another crucial part of this win with his 2-21 aged 35 - in his first move as captain last year. "You look at India's side, and they're one of the best sides to play T20 cricket at the minute, and they've got about five spinners," said Brook. "If they're doing that, why don't we have a little bit of a crack at that as well?" He later backtracked, appearing to be wary of the implications of appearing to imitate India, but would it be so bad if England were? It was a diversion from previous messaging of always concentrating on themselves.

Brook would probably tell you it is those conversations - dealing with the media and finding the right words - that is the hardest part of captaincy. If it was only about the what goes on a cut strip of 22 yards or the green grass around it, there would be no discussion over his future.

On the field, he has impressed as a young captain and here, not without frights, he came through his toughest test so far. England have often looked leaderless in the field during their sorry recent run at white-ball tournaments - a spell in which they have given up their T20 and 50-over world titles and exited the Champions Trophy without winning - but at the crunch moment here there was little doubt who was in charge.

He may not have played under him, but Brook referred to the Eoin Morgan book of captaincy by repeatedly holding the ball at the top of a bowler's mark, giving the heart-rate of his player time to settle. He also led the conversation in the drinks break late in Nepal's chase, after which they lost two quick wickets.

"He was very good at keeping level headed," admitted Jacks. "Jos Buttler spoke as well and those experienced guys are crucial when those pressure situations come around."

Of course, the caveat remains that with one swing of the bat, one flash off an edge, the story would all have been different. Nepal were hugely impressive, but are still 16th in the world rankings. Tougher tests will come but England teams have crumbled in pressure moments while carrying far less baggage than this one. There are just hints, that they may be learning.

Harry Brook regularly slowed the game down when momentum was shifting from England.