Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Jos Buttler has vowed England will be “more aggressive and come back harder” following a comprehensive defeat to world champions India in the first of five T20Is in Kolkata.
England’s frailties against spin on the subcontinent were laid bare by Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi and Axar Patel in a sub-par total of 132 on Wednesday, which India overhauled for the loss of just three wickets thanks largely to a dazzling 34-ball 79 from Abhishek Sharma.
Only Buttler, with 68 off 44 balls, emerged with any batting credit in Brendon McCullum’s first match as England’s all-format head coach, and the captain expects his side to follow his lead in the next match in Chennai.
“We’ll be better for the run out and it’s nice to get into the series even though it’s a loss and we look forward to the next one,” said Buttler, admitting his side had been “well-beaten”.
“We just didn’t quite impose the game that we wanted to play. If anything, we’ll be more aggressive and come back harder in the next one.
“We’re always trying to be aggressive in T20 cricket. On the day, sometimes it won’t come off but we’re backing everyone in the dressing room to play however they want to play and commit to it.”
While McCullum is widely credited with rejuvenating England’s Test side, they lost 4-1 in India last winter and were undone by the turning ball in Pakistan to go down 2-1, having held a 1-0 lead.
At Eden Gardens, Harry Brook and Liam Livingstone seemed unable to read Chakravarthy, who bowled both batters through the gate with googlies in the same over en route to fine figures of three for 23.
Buttler played a lone hand – his new white-ball vice-captain Brook’s 17 was England’s next highest scorer – as he bludgeoned eight fours and two sixes and he has backed his team to turn the tide.
“We know we’re going to be hit by a lot of spin against India – I always expect them to play three spinners,” Buttler said.
“Lots of guys are going to start against spin so it’s just those individual plans and really committing to it to put the pressure back on them.
“A few of our guys were probably facing a few of their guys for the first time – they’ll be better for seeing them. We want to play better and put them under pressure.”
A fired-up Jofra Archer was a rare positive sight for England. He remains on a diet of white-ball cricket on his latest comeback from longstanding elbow and back troubles but there’s hope he will make his Test return this year ahead of this winter’s Ashes.
“He bowled great,” Buttler added. “He always bowls great – it’s great to see him fit and firing. He’s a great weapon to have in an attack.”
