Jos Buttler was unwilling to threat the health of a number of of his England facet with the World Cup across the nook after the primary of 4 costume rehearsal matches in opposition to New Zealand resulted in a powerful defeat.
Caution was adopted over Jonny Bairstow’s shoulder niggle whereas Jason Roy succumbing to a again spasm on Friday morning meant Harry Brook fashioned a makeshift opening partnership with Dawid Malan at a sizzling and sticky Sophia Gardens.
All-rounders Moeen Ali and Sam Curran plus specific quick bowler Mark Wood have been additionally conspicuous by their absence from this sequence opener between two groups who contested the dramatic 2019 World Cup ultimate and can play the primary match of this yr’s extravaganza in opposition to one another on October 5 in Ahmedabad.
To compound England’s woes, Adil Rashid struggled with cramp after bowling three overs and didn’t come again into the assault till New Zealand had decisively gained the higher hand, with unbeaten centuries from Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell securing a complete eight-wicket victory.
Buttler stated: “Fingers crossed, he’s OK. Adil Rashid has been so good for us for so long as he’s been a member of this squad. Hopefully, he’ll be fine. We’ve had just a couple of niggles around.
“Jonny had a little injury in the last T20 (on Tuesday). He would just need a few more days and we didn’t want to take a risk on him. Jason picked up a little injury sort of on the way in.
“Woody’s still building back up. Again, someone we don’t need to take any risks with. He’s really crucial member of the squad and is unique with the skill he offers.
“Fingers crossed he can get some cricket under his belt, but we don’t need to rush it at all. Getting him fully fit and ready for travelling to India is the priority.”
As for whether or not he is aware of his XI for the World Cup opener, Buttler stated: “You always have an idea but the best laid plans sometimes change. There’s plenty of time and you have an idea but things can change.”
Access limitless streaming of flicks and TV reveals with Amazon Prime Video
Sign up now for a 30-day free trial
Sign up
Access limitless streaming of flicks and TV reveals with Amazon Prime Video
Sign up now for a 30-day free trial
Sign up
Buttler top-scored for England with 72 off 68 balls in Cardiff whereas Ben Stokes amassed a resolute 52 off 69 deliveries in his first ODI in 14 months, having reversed his retirement for the World Cup.
There have been additionally fifties for Malan (54 off 53 balls) and Liam Livingstone (52 off 40), heartening innings for the pair who could also be trying over their shoulders as Brook seeks a route into England’s ultimate World Cup squad.
The Yorkshireman, who was referred to as up late as batting cowl for this sequence, had a possibility to push his case and whereas he made a pedestrian 25 off 41 balls in his first List A innings opening the batting and was upstaged by Malan’s fluent knock, Buttler is proud of Brook’s adaptability.
“He’s a quality player, he can bat anywhere,” Buttler stated.
“It’s a great effort for him, from not being in the squad at the start and now being called up for as injury cover and then parachuted in to open the batting.”
England’s 291 for six after they have been requested to bat first on a tough pitch appeared respectable and Buttler thought they have been “just above a par score”, however that they had no reply to a staggering, unbroken 180-run stand in 152 balls from Conway and Mitchell.
Conway rebounded from three single-figure scores within the drawn T20 sequence to submit an aesthetic 111 not out from 121 balls whereas Mitchell was at his belligerent finest in his unbeaten 118 off 91 deliveries.
He hammered Livingstone for the final of seven sixes over the shorter straight boundaries as New Zealand gained with 4.2 overs to spare to put down a marker for the remainder of the sequence.
“It’s certainly not the World Cup, for us it was a great opportunity as a group to play against a quality side,” Conway stated. “We’ve got another three opportunities to do that.
“We thought (England’s total) was slightly above par, actually. The way Daryl came out was awesome. He really put his foot down, showed intent and then certainly made my job pretty easy at the other end.”
