Cricket World Cup 2007

Paul helped to steer England through the Group Stage, with 42* against New Zealand and 23 off 8 balls against Canada. Nixon then hit a superb 42 off 44 balls against Sri Lanka and 38 off 39 against West Indies as England finished fifth in the competition, with Paul having the tenth highest strike rate of all batsmen at the tournament, and an average of 38.6; winning many admirers in the process.