England are looking to bounce back from a sobering start to Jos Buttler and Matthew Mott’s white ball dominance against South Africa… with a streak that begins less than 48 HOURS after losing to India
- England meet South Africa less than 48 hours after the end of the series against India
- The loss in the series raised more questions than answers for life after Eoin Morgan
- Matthew Mott was thought to have had the more convenient deal when coaching was split
- But the Australian faces the looming end of a white-ball era
England need to look beyond emotions Ben Stokes‘ final 50-over game on Tuesday, trying to bounce back from a chaste start to Jos Buttler and Matthew Mott’s white-ball dominance.
The busy schedule that hastened Stoke’s retirement from one-day cricket faces England South Africa in Durham less than 48 hours after the end of a series against India this raised more questions than answers for life afterward John Morgan – and now Stokes.
Mott was thought to have had the easier end of the deal when England decided to return to two coaches, but as their Test cricket gets underway under Brendon McCullum and Stokes, the Australian faces the risk of the end of a white-ball era faced .
England must try to bounce back from a sobering start to Matthew Mott’s white ball reign
England will have to look beyond the emotions of Ben Stokes’ final 50-over game on Tuesday
What Mott needs to do now is prove Rob Key was right in appointing an experienced manager who knew England would need something of a fresh start following Morgan’s departure, and that three-game 50-over streak that followed from a T20 series, gives Mott the ideal chance to start again.
Mott admitted he was surprised by the timing of the departure of the captain in Morgan with whom he had originally been brought to work.
“I’m not going to lie, I didn’t think Eoin would go so quickly,” Mott said, speaking ahead of the shock news of Stokes’ 50-over retirement.
“But as I went through the process he was quite open that he was trying to get through to the T20 World Cup (in October) and then reevaluate it.
Jos Buttler’s men take on South Africa in Durham, less than 48 hours after the India series ended
“I knew he wouldn’t go on forever but I was lucky that he was on that first trip to Holland to show me how it’s done and what makes the team tick. I still catch up with him most mornings, say G’day and get his thoughts. He’ll be a great sounding board for Jos and I outside of the team.
Mott insists there are similarities between how Morgan started out as captain at the 2015 World Cup and what he and Buttler are experiencing now.
“There is no doubt that Eoin’s legacy is huge and his leadership is illustrious, but it wasn’t like that in the beginning,” Mott added. “You’re judged at the end of your term, not at the beginning.”
England will welcome back Adil Rashid after missing both series against India for making the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.
They will also give Matthew Potts a one-day debut at his home arena. But all eyes will be on another man from Durham in Stokes.
Mott admitted he was surprised by the timing of the captain’s departure from Eoin Morgan
England rename Adil Rashid after leg spinner makes Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca
