New Delhi: England would need to take wickets regularly to put India under pressure in the three-match ODI series beginning on Thursday, which serves as a build-up to the Champions Trophy, said skipper Jos Buttler.
England lost the five-match T20I series 1-4 and are desperate to produce a good performance before the Champions Trophy that begins on February 19.
“We want to find ways to put pressure on the opposition with the bat. You’ve got to take wickets, I think, and it’s crucial you see how, if you let guys back for a period of time, they can go on to hurt you,” he said on Wednesday.
“So, we’ll be desperate to try and find ways of taking wickets. It’s always about execution, really. Whether you want to be aggressive, you want to be conservative, you want to be measured, you’ve still got to go out there and execute it and play it well.”
‘India series ideal for CT preparation’
England begin their CT campaign against Australia in Lahore on February 22 and they are keen to make the most of the three matches in India, which has similar conditions like Pakistan.
“As preparation goes for any tournament, I think taking on India in India is always going to be a great challenge and as good a preparation as you can have,” Buttler said.
“The conditions here in India may be similar (to those in Pakistan). Each ground that we play at always has their own nuances and a little bit of difference. We’re always trying to adapt to that,” he added.
The tourists are bolstered by the inclusion of experienced batter Joe Root, who is expected to be a key figure in the dressing room.
“Root is one of the great players of the game, so in all the formats here he’s obviously been a vital part of ODI cricket for England for a long time,” Buttler told reporters on the eve of the first ODI here,” Buttler said.
“He’s got loads of experience in ODI cricket, which would be great for some of the guys who haven’t played as much in our group. He’s been a vital player for England in all formats, and we feel like he’s got a crucial role for us to play in these games.”
We want to find ways to put pressure on the opposition with the bat and you’ve got to take wickets, England skipper Jos Buttler said Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
