Jos Buttler insists England will comeback hard in the next game

07/05/2018

Jos Buttler, who played a majestic innings of 69 runs in the first T20I against India, insisted that England is confident to come back stronger in the second T20I. Buttler stated that opening the innings is a refreshing challenge for him and hopes to retain his flexibility in the batting order.

The tourists registered a comfortable eight-wicket victory, ending England's run of six successive white-ball victories this summer, and putting a marker down for the rest of the tour. It wasn't as much the result as the manner of defeat for England which stood out. Aside from the first six overs of their innings, England were thoroughly outplayed and India barely had to break a sweat. However, Buttler refused to panic.

"It's one game. It's T20," Jos Buttler said as quoted by Cricbuzz. "We are confident. We will stick to what has served us well, stay true to ourselves and come back hard at them in the next game."

After literally thrashing a depleted Australia in ODI and T20I cricket, India were always going to be a far tougher proposition for England and the defeat in Manchester proved as much.

"India are and always are an amazing cricketing nation," Buttler added. "They always pose different threats and a different style to, say, Australia, so it will be a really good challenge. This is why you play, to take on the best. India is a huge cricketing nation with fanatical support. Being a diverse country, we have a lot of Indian supporters and it makes for a great atmosphere. We just have to accept that, and they get that support everywhere in the world."

Buttler was the only England player to emerge from the match with much credit. His 69 was the seventh time he passed 50 in his last eight T20 innings, all of which have been as an opener, and it continued the stellar form he has shown in all formats since returning from the IPL. Although captain Eoin Morgan said England would experiment during this series, it would be a brave call to move Buttler from the top of the order anytime soon.

"It's a fantastic place to bat," the 27-year-old said of opening the batting. "It's been another good challenge for me in my career and refreshing. Whether that's me opening forever, I don't know, I'd hope to retain the flexibility. But I do think it's the best place to bat. But it comes down to the make up of the team."

Buttler reckons his current form has been the best of his career in terms of consistency and puts that down to an improved mental side to his cricket.

"It's about accessing the mental side of the game and that's been pleasing, to work out good routines and staying in the moment in games," he said.

As a batting-group, England know that they need to combat the left-arm wrist-spin of Kuldeep Yadav far better in the next two matches following his 5 for 24 at Old Trafford. He bamboozled England's middle order with a raft of googlies and although Buttler seemed to pick Kuldeep more than the others, he was eventually dismissed by him, attempting to hit over the top with partners running out.

"It's very rare and he's a very good bowler," Buttler said of the Indian spinner. "It's now down to the guys to gain an understanding. You see it a lot in international cricket that guys burst onto the scene and then people get a handle on them.

"It's getting used to the angle because wrist-spin is usually right-arm. He's a good bowler and as we have seen, wrist spinners have been a big weapon in T20. We know we are a lot better than we showed during that little phase of the game. We just didn't manage to capitalize on the start."

Jos Buttler insists England will comeback hard in the next game

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