Jos Buttler was unfazed by England's ODI defeat to Bangladesh after a useful lesson for planning ahead of the Cricket World Cup.
Matthew Mott's tourists had already secured victory in the three-match series and opted for a host of changes in Monday's final ODI in Chattogram, where Bangladesh won by 50 runs.
Young leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed made his international white-ball debut, while all-rounder Sam Curran was promoted up the batting order as Buttler dropped down to make room.
England captain Buttler suggested the result mattered for little after seizing an opportunity to evaluate his options on a surface that may be similar to those at the World Cup in India, which starts in October.
"We changed a few things today and gave an opportunity to people in different ways, but I thought the intensity was still there," Buttler said.
"We certainly believed we could win the game, and if we played well enough, we would have won the game.
"But there was an opportunity today to give Rehan a debut, and for Sam to bat at No. 5, and this is the last ODI we play now until September.
"So, especially in these conditions, it felt like a great chance to gather as much information as we can, and expose people to different situations.
"If we lost the game, then so be it. But I certainly believed we had a team and a performance that could have won the game today."
The much-maligned cricket schedule has regularly been a topic of discussion, with the ODI series in Bangladesh a rare chance for England to plan away from the stress of pre-tournament warm-up fixtures.
England will head to the next global tournament as dual champions, having won the T20 World Cup in Australia last year and the 50-over version in a dramatic victory over New Zealand at Lord's in 2019.
Buttler reaffirmed confidence in all the moving parts within his England side fitting together when it comes to the next World Cup, as they did at the back end of 2022 in the T20 competition.
"I think the schedule is hugely challenging to always get your best XI on the field," Buttler said. "But the game has changed a bit [since] the previous cycle of the World Cup.
"Looking back to the T20 World Cup, we probably went into that World Cup having never played our perceived best XI.
"But then to get into the tournament and go on to win it, that gives you great confidence that, even though we haven't had the opportunities to always play our best team, international cricket has become [more] focused on the ICC tournaments.
"I think that's the way we're building towards that. And we know that, come the World Cup, we will have the opportunity to pick from everyone who's available."
South Africa bowlers earn dominant victory over Bangladesh
South Africa wrapped up the second Test against Bangladesh inside three days by hammering their hosts by an innings and 273 runs in Chattogram.
The victory made it a 2-0 clean sweep in the series for the tourists, who had started the third day in a great spot having left Bangladesh 38-4 in their first innings at stumps on Wednesday.
The Proteas tore through the Bangladesh middle order before bowling them all out for 159 in their first innings.
Seamer Kagiso Rabada, on the way to a five-for, got the ball rolling with the dismissal of captain Najmul Hossain Shanto (nine) before Mushfiqur Rahim was caught by Tony de Zorzi off Dane Paterson for a duck.
Wickets continued to fall in quick succession, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz (one) and Mahidul Islam Ankon (zero) both dismissed by Rabada to leave Bangladesh 48-8. Despite a late rally, they were all out for 159 and South Africa enforced the follow-on to good effect.
Bangladesh made another poor start to their innings, losing Mahmudul Hasan Joy (11), Shadman Islam (six), Zakir Hasan (seven) and Mominul Haque (zero) for just 43 runs, as Keshav Maharaj (5-59) and Senuran Muthusamy leading South Africa's charge to victory.
Data Debrief: Bangladesh's dismal home form rolls on
This defeat was Bangladesh's fifth Test loss in a row at home, which equals their worst run since October 2011 and November 2012.
But the third day of this test was all about South Africa's bowlers, who took 16 wickets in total.
Rabada was first to take a five-for in the first innings, but was later joined by Maharaj. Senuran Muthasamy, meanwhile, took career-best figures of 4-45 in the second innings.
Buttler has 'loads of hunger' to put 'frustrating' injury struggles behind him
Jos Buttler is eager to put his "frustrating" injury absence behind him, and the England white-ball captain has "loads of hunger" to get back on the field.
A recurring calf injury has kept Buttler sidelined since June, with the 34-year-old also set to miss the three-match ODI series against the West Indies, which begins on Thursday.
Liam Livingstone will take over as captain in the absence of Buttler, who should return for the subsequent five-match T20 series in the Caribbean.
And the keeper-batter cannot wait to appear for his country once more.
"It's been frustrating, but now it's feeling good, and I'm looking forward to getting back on the field," he told TNT Sports.
"[I've had] a couple of little setbacks along the way, which is frustrating, but I'm using it to motivate me. I'm just excited to get back on the pitch and back with the bat in hand in the middle.
"I'm OK at watching. I think it fuels that fire to get out in the middle and play. You want to be performing and part of the team, leading the side.
"I try not to have a mindset of being frustrated, but take it as a bit of an extended break out of the game. But hopefully, [I can] see it as some time away to really give me loads of hunger to get back on the field."
Buttler also offered his thoughts on Livingstone, who he believes is the safe pair of hands to take over the captaincy for the ODI series.
"Liam is one of the more experienced numbers in that group, and it gives him a chance to get some leadership experience, build that leadership group," he added.
"He's a player that's exciting as well, we know what he's capable of, and it's a really good opportunity for him to lead the team.
"I think it's really important to let them go out there and do their thing. You don't want to be asking someone to do exactly what you want to do, you're trying to give guys experience. If he needs a sounding board or anything, he can certainly ask my opinion."
Mulder and Muthusamy partnership puts South Africa on the brink
South Africa are on the brink of sealing a series sweep after another dominant display on the second day of their second Test against Bangladesh in Chattogram.
Wiaan Mulder became the third maiden centurion for the Proteas in the Test, with the tourists declaring on 575-6 before ripping through Bangladesh's top order to leave them 38-4 at stumps.
De Zorzi, the hero on day one, started at the crease with David Bedingham, and the pair continued to hammer home their advantage, adding significant runs to their overnight totals.
Taijul Islam, on his way to a five-wicket haul, eventually got the wickets of Bedingham (59) and De Zorzi (177), only for Mulder and Senuran Muthusamy to take control.
The duo put on an unbeaten partnership of 152 runs, after which South Africa declared their innings, with Mulder and Muthusamy ending on 105 and 68 respectively.
Bangladesh then made a poor start to their chase, losing Shadman Islam for a duck in the first over, with Zakir Hasan (two), Mahmudul Hasan Joy (10) and Hasan Mahmud (three) falling shortly after.
Mominul Haque (six) and Najmul Hossain Shanto (four) are the men tasked with starting Bangladesh's revival when play resumes on Thursday.
Data Debrief: The Three Musketeers
Bangladesh last lost five matches in a row at home from October 2011 to November 2012, but look in serious danger of equalling that run after a rampant South Africa display.
And while the first day belonged to De Zorzi and Stubbs, the second day was all about Mulder's century and his partnership with Muthusamy.
The pair added 152 runs for the unbroken seventh wicket, breaking South Africa's record for this wicket against Bangladesh from the previous Test in Dhaka, where Mulder and Kyle Verreynne had added 119.
Mulder also became the third batter to score his maiden Test century in Chattogram, after De Zorzi and Stubbs. Only once before have three batters scored their maiden Test tons in the same innings - Gerry Gomez, Robert Christiani and Clyde Walcott for West Indies against India in Delhi in 1948.
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