Jos Buttler says that the highest standard of cricket is possible only if you prepare properly
England’s white-ball skipper Jos Buttler has expressed disappointment at the lack of training time, given their tight timetable with consecutive series, after the third and last ODI against Proteas.
England’s white-ball skipper Jos Buttler has expressed disappointment at the lack of training time, given their tight timetable with consecutive series, after the third and last ODI against Proteas.
The last ODI of the summer was cleaned out because of a ceaseless downpour with just 27.4 overs conceivable on Sunday at Headingley, finishing the series at 1-1.
England played 12 T20I and 9 ODI matches in 24 days and could bag just two out of six ODIs in the last two weeks.
“I think those training days are really important for that team cohesion, the energy within the group, the fielding drills, the camaraderie around the guys without the pressure of a game,”
Buttler said.
“And they’re vital to high performance. When you miss that chance as well, there’s frustration. It is how it is, and that’s sort of the way this month has panned out. If we find those situations again, we just have to, I think, just find a way… even if you can’t give 100%, can you give 90% of 90? That’s a bit of learning.”
“It’s tough, a lot of the time around training is when you do your best work, away from the pressures of the game, having good conversations, and having a feel for where the group is at. And not just always in game mode, preparing for guys on the day. To get the highest standard of cricket possible, you need to prepare properly. Hopefully, that’s something we can look at going forward. As a new captain, just have that time to bed in and do that work around your players and with your coaches. That’s been a frustration to be truthfully honest – it would be nice to have that time to do the work. But we don’t, so you just have to adapt and find the best way. It’s been a good challenge.”
South Africa was well positioned at 159/2 in 27.4 overs for a strong total with Quinton de Kock unbeaten on 92 off 76 before rain halted play for good on the evening. Buttler said he didn’t think England has the same intensity as they did in the second ODI.
“I thought we didn’t have quite the same intensity we had on Friday night,”
he said.
“And I know it’s easy to say that when you get wickets and everyone’s up and about, but I thought we didn’t quite have the same intent and energy…maybe only for the first 10 overs of that 20 overs. I thought there was a clear difference when we do have it, so just to encourage us to always try and find that as a team. Take the result out of winning or losing, to make sure we’re always competing at our best and highest intensity.
“In theory, it sounds easy: it’s one-all and you’re playing a series decider. But there’s no getting past the schedule does make that tough.”
