Best yet to come for struggling England, says Giles

Limited-overs coach Ashley Giles acknowledged his team fell short of their best in the 2-1 NatWest Series defeat against New Zealand.

But after Wednesday’s more encouraging 34-run win at Trent Bridge, to avoid being whitewashed in this country for the first time in seven years, Giles senses England may be about to deliver for their home campaign in one of the world’s biggest tournaments.

The absence of Stuart Broad and Steven Finn, who returned on Wednesday with no apparent ill-effects from their respective knee and shin injuries, was obvious mitigation as England went 2-0 down.

But their batting too was lacking sparkle, despite an unbeaten century from Jonathan Trott in Southampton, and in Nottingham it was only the breathtaking late hitting of Jos Buttler that transformed an otherwise one-paced innings.

With England’s opening Champions Trophy group match set to take place against Australia at Edgbaston tomorrow, Giles said: “I’m certainly buoyed from this match (at Trent Bridge), because it was much better.

“It was still not anywhere near a perfect performance.

“It’s disappointing to have lost a series, and we’ve let ourselves down in certain departments.”

England made four changes, James Tredwell coming in for rested first-choice off-spinner Graeme Swann and Ravi Bopara back in the guise of an all-rounder.

“I think there were different areas in the (first) two games where we were disappointed,” added Giles.

“It was good to win when we changed the side slightly – some of it because we needed to give guys a break – and it was also good to welcome a couple of the big boys back.

“I thought the way we batted was much cleaner and crisper, and it was quite exciting at the end.”

It is a moot point whether Buttler’s astonishing 47 not out from 16 balls – within one more big shot of a new fastest 50 in ODI history – put a misleading gloss on England’s overall performance.

Certainly, it was a contribution which altered the complexion of the match – and Giles said: “There are some big positives, but we’ve certainly not played our ‘A’ game yet.

“Maybe we’re saving that.”

Buttler did not save his best for another day, instead serving notice of a talent which will have bowlers the world over quaking at the thought of somehow trying to stop his array of powerful and inventive shots.

The 22-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman did not even take guard until the 47th over – but as in last year’s equally memorable 32 not out against South Africa in a Twenty20 international at Edgbaston, he demonstrated he does not need long to have a major impact.

Giles is confident Buttler can do likewise with more overs at his disposal too, after his breakthrough ODI innings.

“I think he can do it over a longer period,” Giles said.

“I think what Jos needed was to do it once in 50-over cricket.

“It doesn’t mean he’s going to do it all the time – but in Twenty20 cricket, once he crossed that hurdle, he looked a different player.

“I’m hoping that will happen again.”

Bopara’s and even Eoin Morgan’s innings were less spectacular. But their half-century stand helped to provide Buttler’s launchpad – a factor which gives Giles more food for thought.

“I think the batting order, playing an extra batter in Ravi, might have given him a bit more confidence – it takes a little bit of pressure off him and gives him a bit more freedom.

“It doesn’t necessarily mean that’s the way we’re going to go.

“But Jos has shown in Twenty20 cricket he is built for coming in for five overs. Cooky and I sat on the balcony and said ‘30 off 10 balls would be nice’. He exceeded all our expectations, so I’m really chuffed for him.”

Former England captain Michael Vaughan believes tomorrow’s game at Edgbaston will mean little with regard to the forthcoming Ashes – but could provide a major psychological boost for the visitors.

The encounter comes just over a month before the first Ashes Test of this summer’s series gets under way at Trent Bridge.

England are being widely tipped to retain the urn they have been in possession of since 2009 and Vaughan does not see tomorrow’s result having much impact on their confidence they will do so.

He does, though, think Australia will feel better about their prospects for the forthcoming battles if they can emerge triumphant from this meeting.

“I don’t think Saturday will affect England too much with regard to the rest of the summer, whatever happens,” Vaughan said.

“But I think it could be a huge confidence booster for Australia if they go out and beat England on Saturday. I think it is what they need.

“There is a lot of change from their one-day side to their Test side, but there is a nucleus there that is set to be a part of that first Test on July 10.”

Australia captain Michael Clarke has been sidelined by a back problem, missed Tuesday’s crushing 243-run warm-up defeat to India and is a doubt for tomorrow’s contest.

Whether Clarke features or not, Vaughan – who led England to Ashes glory in 2005 – feels the outcome of the match will be of particular significance to the 32-year-old.

“He hasn’t won that many games against England, particularly in the last couple of series,” Vaughan said.