‘We’ll keep trying’ – Buttler says England want 500 in ODIs

On Friday, England broke a record for the highest ODI score that they had themselves set previously –  481 for 6 against Australia at Trent Bridge in 2018. By the time the innings against Netherlands had reached the last two ball, England had already broken the record and were 488 for 4. Two sixes would’ve taken them to 500, but Liam Livingstone could only manage a four off the penultimate ball, before smashing the last ball of the innings for six to take England to 498 for 4.

Jos Buttler, who had only made 11 during the Australia epic in 2018, was one of the chief architects of the record this time round. His career-best 162 not out came off just 70 balls, and included 14 sixes. Buttler, arguably the world’s best limited-overs batsman at the moment, said England will keep on pushing to break the 500 barrier.

‘We’ll keep trying’ – Buttler on England scoring 500

“We’ve come close [to 500] one time before this and the message in the team is to try to keep pushing boundaries and taking the team forward, to take the game on,” Buttler said.

“Is it a matter of time before we make 500? I don’t know. We’ll keep trying to do it. It’s a tough thing to try to achieve and it will probably have to happen on a belting wicket at a small ground.

“I think the biggest thing, irrelevant of the score, is the mentality we are showing as a team. We keep trying to better that and be better as a team when we play. We know that stands us in good stead.”

“Obviously any time you manage to play like that as a team is fantastic. I’ve said many times that this is the most fun environment I’ve ever played in, so it’s great to be back, great to be on a normal tour and not worry about bubbles and that kind of thing.”