London: England`s limited-overs team have improved significantly since being dumped out of the World Cup in the group stage two years ago but they remain a work in progress, batting mainstay Joe Root has said.


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The team have undergone a transformation under Eoin Morgan and were considered one of the favourites at the ongoing Champions Trophy. And while their bid to win a maiden global 50-overs title was scuppered by Pakistan in Wednesday`s semi-final, Root said it was clear they were on the right track.


"This was a golden chance to win a tournament at home, and I think all we can do now is keep looking towards that World Cup and use this as a really good platform," test captain Root told reporters.


"We know we`re not the finished article. But we have made huge strides and we`ve got to continue to work out ways to get on the right side of these scenarios when things aren`t favourable to us."


England will host the next World Cup in two years` time and Root, who is expected to assume one-day captaincy before that, said it was important for the side to keep improving.


"It is a good learning curve for us but we`ve got to keep the same drive that we`ve had over the last 18 months to keep getting better so that, when that World Cup does come round, we`re in the best shape possible and give ourselves the best chance of really contending that final."