It’s time to push the boundaries says stand-in skipper Jos
England have one final chance to leave India with a series win under their belts in today’s one-day decider in Pune, with stand-in captain Jos Buttler asking his side to “push the boundaries” of their white-ball game once more.
The teams have traded heavy wins in the first two matches of the 50-over leg but the onus is on the tourists to make the running after losing the Test leg 3-1 and the Twenty20s 3-2.
The ODI format has been England’s comfort zone for most of the last five years, built around a fearless aggression with the bat that remains their favoured method.
The primary architect of their ultra-aggressive style, Eoin Morgan, is once again unfit but, in Buttler, he has a deputy who has not only signed up to the blueprint but also helped forge it.
Buttler was at the helm as England reeled off 20 sixes to chase down 337 with six wickets and 39 balls to spare and wants to see more of the same to secure some silverware.
“It’s great to be in another ‘final’, they are great games to be involved in,” he said.
“India are a fantastic side, they have a style they play and they have had a lot of success in doing that but we tend to focus on ourselves as much as we can.
“We want to play in a certain fashion, we want to push the boundaries of what we are capable of as a side and live true to that. The way
I see the cricket is very closely aligned to Eoin.
“Myself and Eoin have a very similar view on the game and that runs throughout the team as well. It’s not just us as captain and vice-captain, it’s a lot of senior players, and anyone who really plays in the side, which is a big plus for English cricket.”
Buttler has led England on 11 previous occasions in limitedovers cricket, having first done so in 2015, but staring down Virat Kohli’s India in a shootout and winning would surely be his biggest day in the role to date – and it is one he feels ready for.
“I was thinking yesterday, if I wasn’t ready to step into Morgs’ shoes when he’s not playing now, I never would be,” he said.
“He’s one of the best captains I’ve ever played under and a great friend. I’ve learned a lot from talking to him about leadership and how he captains. That’s certainly helped me feel more comfortable.
“Although I do have experience as a player I don’t have loads of experience as a captain so there are some different feelings and emotions that you have to get used to.
“Someone like Virat is a very competitive guy and an emotional player, and he rides the emotions of the games. All of this series has been fiercely competitive.”
Meanwhile, it was announced that Jofra Archer is set to have surgery on a right-hand injury.
The issue appears unconnected to the longer standing elbow complaint which saw the paceman miss two Tests against India and also ruled him out of the ODIS and is said to date back to a cut sustained while cleaning in January.