Mott urges England to be braver

MATTHEW Mott has dared England to be bolder ahead of three one-day internationals against India after admitting they were “timid” at times in the Twenty20 series.

England’s batting will be appreciably reinforced by Ben Stokes, Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow this week, and the vim the trio may bring after a heady four Test wins this summer will be welcomed by Mott.

While the Test side are thriving, making a cakewalk of tricky fourthinnings chases, an understrength white-ball outfit stuttered in their first assignment since Eoin Morgan’s international retirement.

Chasing was a strength under Morgan but they faltered at the Ageas Bowl and Edgbaston, as India laid down a marker with three months to go until the T20 World Cup, before England won the final match at Trent Bridge.

A consolation 17-run victory on Sunday, when England piled up 215 for seven after deciding to bat first, enthused Mott, who has challenged both batters and bowlers to embrace risks moving forwards.

England’s white-ball head coach said: “What we’ve talked about was just being a bit braver and being prepared to make some mistakes. I think if anything we could have been accused of being a bit timid with the bat.

“From a batting perspective there is definitely a real attacking mindset and trying to push the barriers out there and get some big totals out there.

“And with the ball it’s more of the same as well. We’ve talked about being brave with the ball, taking some aggressive options, and then just weathering the storm when we need to.”

A fearless mindset seems to be second nature for Stokes, who has ushered in a new way of thinking for the Test side alongside Brendon McCullum, with Root and Bairstow instrumental in three wins over New Zealand and one over India.

The Yorkshire pair are both averaging over 100 this summer, while Bairstow’s strike-rate sits at a scarcely believable 100.16, and Mott is relishing the availability of all three players ahead of Tuesday’s first ODI at the Kia Oval.