Jos Buttler discusses England's win over an Australia Prime Minister's XI
Jos Buttler admits England are delighted to have secured their first victory for two months in Australia.
The tourists' other win of the winter came against a Cricket Australia Invitational XI a week before the first Ashes Test. They went on to lose the Ashes series 5-0 and were defeated in Sunday's opening one-day international.
Their losing run ended today, however, when cruising to a 172-run win over an Australia Prime Minister’s XI at the Manuka Oval in Canberra.
Buttler, whose 61 backed up 56 from Gary Ballance and Michael Carberry's 47 as England posted 264 for eight, told ecb.co.uk: “Everyone is absolutely thrilled to get a win.
“I thought we played very well. We were up against it initially with the bat but Carbs (Carberry) and Gary Ballance got a good partnership.
“Then myself and Bressie (Tim Bresnan) got up to a challenging total and, after we took early wickets, it was always going to be tough for them.”
It certainly proved “tough” as Ravi Bopara followed up those initial strikes by claiming 4-3 to help dismiss the home side for 92.
Such a dominant success will no doubt boost the confidence of England, who immediately turn their attentions to trying to level the ODI series in Friday’s second game.
“There have been guys playing in the Big Bash and other guys who have moved from Tests to 50-over cricket so to play another game will stand us in good stead,” added Buttler.
“It’s nice to get a win and we can move on to Brisbane from here. There were a few things we didn’t get right in Melbourne and we’re obviously working on a few things.
“But we hope to get it right in Brisbane, put in a complete performance, take it to 1-1 and get some momentum back on our side.”
Buttler’s effort today followed up a good cameo of 34 not out at Melbourne.
That came on the back of a fine series when these teams met last summer, with some believing he should be in the reckoning for the Test side.
However, Buttler is not getting carried away, adding: “You take every game as it comes, try your best and see where you end up.”