Synopsis
In the aftermath of a disappointing 1-4 T20I series loss to India, England captain Jos Buttler remains committed to their aggressive brand of cricket. Despite the setback, he acknowledges areas for improvement and highlights some positives as they prepare for the upcoming ODI series.Key Takeaways
- England faced a 1-4 series loss against India.
- Jos Buttler emphasized commitment to aggressive cricket.
- Positives noted from players like Brydon Carse and Mark Wood.
- Abhishek Sharma's performance was highly praised.
- Preparing for the ODI series in Nagpur.
Mumbai, Feb 3 (NationPress) England's captain Jos Buttler expressed his dismay at his team's defeat in the five-match T20I series, losing 1-4 against India. He emphasized their intention to persist with their current aggressive style of cricket, notwithstanding the challenges faced.
Arriving in India with Brandon McCullum as the new all-format coach, England aimed to instill his bold approach, known as Bazball, into their shorter format. However, the expected outcomes were not achieved, with the exception of the third match in Rajkot, where they secured a victory by 26 runs, while struggling to assert their game against the hosts.
During the fifth and final match at Wankhede, England opted to bowl first and were overwhelmed, conceding 247 runs. Abhishek Sharma was sensational, scoring 135 runs off 54 balls, maintaining a strike rate close to 200. In response, England faced a significant collapse, bowled out for just 97 runs in 10.3 overs, suffering a staggering 150-run defeat.
Despite the series loss, Buttler reiterated their commitment to this style of play and expressed optimism for improved execution in the future.
"We’re disappointed to lose the series, but we’ve shown some good aspects and identified areas for improvement. Our aim is to fully embrace this style of cricket and enhance our execution," Buttler remarked post-match.
Even with a poor series outcome, Buttler pointed out several positives to carry into the upcoming three-match ODI series commencing in Nagpur on February 6. He noted the impressive bowling performances from Brydon Carse and Mark Wood, hoping his players gained valuable experience from competing in front of substantial crowds in India.
"Some of the bowling displays, particularly from Brydon Carse and Mark Wood, were exceptional. India is a formidable side, especially on home turf, and we’ve grown from this experience, particularly the atmosphere created by the large crowds at Wankhede," Buttler stated.
Buttler praised Abhishek Sharma‘s innings as one of the finest he’s witnessed, recalling his prior observations of the opener during the Indian Premier League (IPL) and echoing Australian Travis Head’s commendations of Abhishek from their time together at Sunrisers Hyderabad.
"I've watched a lot of cricket, and I believe Abhishek's innings today ranked among the best. Full credit to him; his striking was remarkably clean, and he played exceptionally well," Buttler remarked.
"It can be challenging when a player is in such form, and looking back at the last IPL, both he and Travis were at the top of the order for Sunrisers. Clearly, he brought that form into this series, and today he played a fantastic innings. You often think about what you could have done differently to dismiss such a player," he added.
