Wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler admits that England are desperate to take on Australia in tomorrow’s Tri-Series final at the WACA Ground.
England’s prize for beating India by three wickets in Perth yesterday was a decider against an Australian side they will open the World Cup against on February 14.
That will add added significance to the occasion and, after falling to Australia in both group games, Buttler said he is team-mates are raring to go.
“Tomorrow is a big game for us,” he said.
“We’re desperate to put in a really good performance against a much-fancied Australia side.
“It will be another good marker of where we are as a team and how far we’ve come.”
England have made strides forward throughout the tournament with a pair of wins over world champions India sandwiching a closely-fought defeat to Australia in Hobart.
That has raised hope that England can mix it with the very best when the World Cup comes around, although Buttler knows stringing wins together will be the ultimate measure of any progress.
Wicket-keeping drills for @josbuttler#AusvEng#triseries#CWC15https://t.co/M3rEx8NAwj
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“I think we’ve developed a lot over the last few months, throughout the Sri Lanka series and now under Eoin Morgan’s captaincy in Australia,” he said.
“We’re pretty pleased with the direction we’re going. We seem to have a pretty settled side at the moment for Australian conditions and a couple of wins against a strong India side can give us confidence going into the tournament.
“Since we’ve been in Australia the work we’ve put in – you couldn’t work any harder. Now it is down to results and performances.
“We have to become a side that makes winning a habit and that’s what we need to do leading into the tournament.”
Buttler combined with James Taylor yesterday to help drag England towards victory against India, after they had crashed to 66 for five chasing 201 for victory.
Their 125-run stand drew widespread praise, most notably from Morgan, and Buttler admitted he felt he owed it to his team-mates to play a match-winning role.
“Yeah, it was very pleasing. It was great to get a partnership going with Titch (Taylor) at a time when we needed one,” he said.
“Especially for me I’d felt like in the past few games I’ve played I’ve got myself in – going back to Sri Lanka as well – and not gone on to make telling contributions.
“It is nice to do that.”