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England's ODI captain Jos Buttler has emphasised the significance of steadfastness in team selection, especially when the squad is encouraged to play aggressively. This comes after England's resounding victory over New Zealand by 100 runs, sealing the four-match ODI series 3-1 in their favour.
Reflecting on the win at Lord's, where Dawid Malan's century and Adil Rashid's four-wicket haul were instrumental, Buttler highlighted the team's ethos. "We've tried to be a really loyal team and selection panel throughout. It's something Eoin Morgan and Trevor Bayliss initiated. If you ask people to play in an aggressive manner, then leave them out as soon as it goes awry, it sends the wrong message," Buttler remarked.
The topic of former England captain Joe Root's form was also broached. Root's performance in the series against New Zealand was underwhelming, amassing only 39 runs across four matches. Addressing the possibility of giving Root additional game time, Buttler stated, "Everything's an option. With someone as seasoned as Joe Root, you can simply ask him 'what do you need before a World Cup?' and he'll be able to articulate what he'd prefer."
The conversation also turned to the much-anticipated return of pacer Jofra Archer. Archer, who boasts an impressive record of 42 wickets in 21 ODIs for England, has been sidelined due to injuries but is keen to regain full fitness ahead of the ODI World Cup. Speaking about Archer, Buttler said, "There's a significant duty of care towards Archer. He's been away from the game for some time, and he's still a young chap with a plethora of cricket ahead. He's a superstar. We're eager to see him back in action soon."
As England gears up for the forthcoming challenges, they are scheduled to take on Ireland in a three-match ODI series. This will serve as a crucial preparatory phase before they embark on their World Cup journey next month.
