Jos Buttler(Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
England’s opening game against Scotland was spoiled due to rain and that led to some extra pressure on the Jos Buttler-led side to deliver against Australia and pick up two crucial points. However, their bowling unit failed miserably as Australia posted 201 runs in the first innings thanks to David Warner and Travis Head’s rapid start alongside other contributions.
Phil Salt and Buttler looked good in the chase and gave an important start to England but things got complicated after their dismissals as the Three Lions struggled and eventually lost the game by 36 runs. Moeen Ali and Harry Brook tried to rescue England in the middle overs but couldn’t get the job done. After the game, Buttler looked disappointed and admitted that Australia outplayed England in Barbados. The 33-year-old felt that England started well but the Mitchell Marsh-led side fought back and put immense pressure on them in the second innings.
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“I thought we were outplayed today by Australia. They played really well in the powerplay and put us under a lot of pressure straight away. We know the position we’re in. It’s exactly laid out for us how we need to go about it. We can review this game and move on and plan for the next one,” Buttler told BBC Test Match Special.
Australia were better than us on the day in all three facets: Moeen Ali
England vice-captain Moeen Ali acknowledged that Australia were better than them in all three facets of the game. He believes Australia used the conditions to their favour and added that England were not clinical and needs to change that to find success in the remaining matches.
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“I just felt that Australia were better than us on the day in all three facets. They were smarter than us with the ball and used the conditions really well. We’ve just got to be a bit more precise and when we come on to bowl. You have to get in and bowl your ball straight away and try and make something happen and not hope something will happen. We need to defend when we need to defend and attack when we need to attack,” Moeen said.
England are currently fourth on the points table, as Australia, Scotland and Namibia are ahead of them in the points table. To make it to the Super 8, they will have to make sure a win against Oman and Namibia.