WI vs ENG: Jos Buttler heaps praise on Phil Salt after ‘fantastic series’ in Caribbean

England captain Jos Buttler heaped praise on wicket-keeping batter Phil Salt, saying he had a fantastic series in the Caribbean. The West Indies beat England by four wickets to clinch the five-match T20I series 3-2.

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Salt had an exceptional T20I series against the West Indies and was also adjudged the Player of the Series. Salt scored 331 runs in five matches, at an average of 82.75 in the T20I series, while also scoring back-to-back centuries against the West Indies.

Speaking after the fifth T20I, Buttler said 160 would have been a decent total in the final match of the series, stressing that the conditions were different compared to the previous venues. West Indies bowled out England for 132 runs in the first innings and chased down the target with four wickets and four balls remaining.

“I think the conditions were different. I think in this wicket, 160 would have been a really decent total. Our bowlers did well and took the match close. Had there been more runs on the board, we would have been in a better position,” said Buttler.

He went on to hail Salt’s performance in the T20I series, saying it’s never easy to score back-to-back centuries. Salt scored an unbeaten 109 in the third T20I in St George’s before smashing 119 runs in the fourth T20I in Tarouba.

“Salt has had a fantastic series. It is never easy to score back to back hundreds and he did that. We found a lot of ourselves and we will look to take the learnings positively. It feels always great to come and play to the Caribbean and we have thoroughly enjoyed our time here,” Buttler added.

West Indies had failed to qualify for the 2023 ODI World Cup, so a T20I series win ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup is bound to boost the morale and confidence in their dressing room.