Jos Buttler has zeroed in on the “thankless task” of death bowling as one area England can improve upon ahead of the defence of their T20 World Cup crown in six months’ time.
England may have lost both white-ball series against the West Indies but gained valuable insight into pitches and conditions they may encounter in the Caribbean and United States next June.
Only Adil Rashid and Reece Topley among the touring bowlers kept their economy rate below nine an over, while the Windies’ conveyor belt of six hitters frequently pummelled the ropes towards the back end.
Buttler acknowledged stopping a Windies juggernaut is easier said than done but England’s white-ball captain feels his bowlers can try to master keeping runs at a premium at the crunch phase.
“For every team in T20 cricket death bowling is a massive area that everyone has to look at and we’re the same as a team,” Buttler said. “If you can execute your yorkers they’re still the best ball.
“Managing expectations is a big part of it. Knowing what’s a win and what’s a loss. Getting an over to only go for 13 instead of 18 or those kind of things.
“We know the way the game has gone, batters are fantastic at the end of the innings at clearing the ropes and the innovation. So it is a thankless task.
“I think you have to manage those expectations but you’re always trying to upskill and get better.”
England leave the Caribbean empty-handed after 2-1 and 3-2 losses in the ODIs and T20s against a side below them in the rankings in both formats, and just weeks on from a shock World Cup group-stage exit.
Defeat in Thursday’s T20 series decider was England’s 11th loss in 17 limited-overs matches this winter, but Buttler argued there are reasons to regard this trip as a qualified success.
England’s 267 for three in the penultimate T20 was their highest score in the format and they equalled their second highest run-chase in the third match, while several individuals have pushed their case.
“I think so, yeah, ” Buttler said when asked if the tour had been a success. “Obviously some players have stood up and done really well.
View this post on Instagram“You want to win and I think we all wanted to win the series and it’s hard to say when you’ve lost, but I think we’ve found out some good things.
“There’s been lots of ups and downs throughout the year but it’s always important to keep looking forward. We played some really good cricket for the majority of the series. It’s been a good series.”
Buttler handed wicketkeeping duties over to Phil Salt for the final two matches but was coy about whether he intends for the switch to become a permanent one.
“I’d probably take a few days to sort of reflect on that,” he said. “It’s nice sometimes during the over to be closer to the bowler, but when you’re keeping wicket you can always run down and run back.
“I like the view as a wicketkeeper behind the stumps, to be able to see exactly what’s happening, but I enjoy fielding as well. I don’t really have any huge preference either way.”
England’s next white-ball assignment is not until a T20 series against Pakistan in May so Buttler and head coach Matthew Mott can take stock after a difficult past few months.
“I’ve had some low moments, for sure,” Buttler added. “It was a huge disappointment in my career, that World Cup that’s just gone.
“But after you let the dust settle there’s huge motivation, determination to have another crack and keep going. That desire still burns strongly.”
Salt century gives England winning start to West Indies T20 series
Phil Salt hit a superb century as England drew first blood in their T20 series against West Indies, with a commanding eight-wicket victory at the Kensington Oval.
Salt's unbeaten 103 off 54 balls was the highlight for the tourists, who successfully chased down their target of 183 with 19 balls to spare.
The West Indies endured a difficult start and were reduced to 18-3 and later 117-8, with Saqib Mahmood (4-34) and Adil Rashid (3-32) doing the damage.
However, the hosts managed 65 runs in the last 5.2 overs to finish at 182-8, with Gukadesh Motie knocking 33 off 14 balls along the way.
Salt kick-started England's chase with 50 off just 25 deliveries taking them to 73-1 after six overs, with Will Jacks (17) dismissed with the final ball of the powerplay.
Jos Buttler's first match after four months out lasted just three minutes, as the skipper was caught by Motie for a golden duck.
However, it proved a false dawn for West Indies, with Salt and Jacob Bethall (58 from 36 balls) safely steering England to victory.
Data Debrief: Salt completes hat-trick of hundreds as Bethell makes historic half-century
England put their disappointing ODI series behind them, making history with the highest T20 chase at the Kensington Oval.
Salt was the hero with his third T20I century, all of which have come against West Indies in the past 12 months.
Bethell also made history on Saturday. Aged 21 years and 17 days, he become the youngest England player to score a 50 in a T20I.
Asalanka leads Sri Lanka to ODI series win over West Indies
Sri Lanka wrapped up the ODI series against the West Indies with a five-wicket victory in Pallekele.
The hosts successfully chased down their opponents' total of 189, giving them an unassailable 2-0 in the three-match series.
Sri Lanka controlled the early powerplay - Asitha Fernando (3-35) and Maheesh Theekshana (3-25) took two wickets apiece to leave the tourists at 31-4 in the ninth over.
Wanindu Hasaranga (4-40) then claimed three of his four wickets as Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh and Alzarri Joseph were all dismissed in the space of 14 balls.
However, Sherfane Rutherford (80 off 82 balls) and Gudakesh Motie (50 not out) steadied the ship to take the Windies from 58-8 to 189.
Although Joseph claimed Avishka Fernando (9) in the fourth over, Nishan Madushka and Sadeera Samarawickrama both chipped in with contributions of 38 to get the hosts to 112-4.
Skipper Charith Asalanka (62 not out) led the charge thereon, while Kamindu Mendis (11) comfortably got them over the line with 34 balls remaining.
Data Debrief: Rutherford-Motie historic stand proves academic for tourists
West Indies were looking to level the series, but their hopes were not aided by Sri Lanka's impressive bowling.
Rutherford and Motie did their best. Their partnership brought 119 runs, which is their nation's highest ninth-wicket stand in ODI history, breaking the previous record of 85 between Yannic Cariah and Alzarri Joseph.
However, it ultimately proved in vain as the hosts secured the series with a game to spare.
'I was a tired, grumpy old man' - Stokes apologised to England team-mates after Pakistan defeat
Ben Stokes says he apologised to his England team-mates after his frustrations were evident during the second-Test defeat by Pakistan.
The hosts levelled the three-Test series on Thursday after wrapping up a 152-run win in Multan.
However, it could have been a different story but for fielding errors at crucial stages for the visitors, Jamie Smith and Joe Root notably dropping catches to dismiss Salman Agha, whose subsequent knock of 63 helped Pakistan seal victory with a day to spare.
Stokes, who returned to action following a hamstring injury, could not hide his frustration during a difficult day for England, but insisted he would not let his emotions get the better of him again.
"No one means to drop catches, but it just proves how important catches are in these subcontinent conditions, they don't come along that often," he told Sky Sports.
"I actually apologised to the group last night. It's the first time in my captaincy that I've let my emotions and how I was feeling with the way the game was unfolding show in my body language.
"I owned up to that and was very annoyed at myself for letting that out. It's something that I don't want to do or be seen to be doing, so I apologised to the group about that.
"Poor old me, I was a tired, grumpy old man last night! You won't see that happen again."
However, England coach Brendon McCullum defended the actions of his skipper.
"We all know how passionate Ben is, how much it means for him to play for England," he said.
"We've seen that through his bloody-mindedness to get back from injury, which was significant, and to do so in a nine-week timeframe and to have his first TM [Test match] in extreme conditions, 40 degrees, and be able to give what he gave to the side.
"I think, maybe, that's where some of that frustration led to - certainly, it wasn't directed at any of the players. It was more about trying to assess the rhythm of the game, and to impact on it."
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