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We’ve underperformed with the bat all summer: Jos Buttler
Follow UsAt Old Trafford, a sub-par batting performance saw the hosts get bundled out 259 on a flat wicket
England skipper Jos Buttler brushed aside concerns about his side’s batting, but conceded that the team underperformed with the bat across both the T20Is and ODIs. England entered the series decider at Old Trafford on the back of a handsome 100-run win at Lord’s, but a sub-par batting performance saw the hosts get bundled out 259 on a flat wicket. The Three Lions produced an inspired performance with the ball in the second ODI, but defending 260 on a flat Old Trafford track proved to be a mountain too steep to climb.
Speaking in the aftermath of the series defeat, Buttler admitted that his side fared poorly with the bat, and asserted that the batters need to ‘bat longer’.
"I thought we were were short on runs. We needed a good start with the ball so that was fantastic. We created chances but two guys took the game away from us, that's where we lost the game. Not concerned about batting. All summer, in T20s and ODIs we haven't batted our best. We just need to bat longer,” Buttler said at the presentation.
The England skipper further rued the side’s inability to take chances on the field. Buttler had the chance to stump Pant when the southpaw was on 18, but the wicket-keeper fluffed it. The missed chance eventually proved costly as Pant made England pay by smashing an unbeaten 125 and taking India over the line.
“When you give players a chance (missed stumping) they will hurt you. Hardik too, a half chance. The score we put up, we were going to need to take all our chances.”
England might have lost the series, but they’ll certainly look at the emergence of Reece Topley as a silver lining. The left-armer, who has had rotten luck with injuries in his career, backed up his six-wicket haul in the second ODI with three wickets in the third, and ended the three-match series as the highest wicket-taker. Buttler lavished praise on the lanky left-armer, who encountered his breakthrough series at the international level.
“He's been brilliant. Got his opportunity, and delighted for him to do well,” Buttler said of Topley, before adding that he did not give Topley the full 10 overs today in order to manage his workload.
