Matthew Mott insists there were “some really good signs” in the first phase of England’s one-day rebuild, despite their series against West Indies ending in defeat on Saturday night.
A four-wicket victory for the hosts in the decider means England have begun the quest to get back on track after their World Cup disaster with a 2-1 loss to a side that did not even qualify for that tournament.
England took an inexperienced squad to the Caribbean, however, blooding a new-look top order and handing more experience to young bowlers like teenage spinner Rehan Ahmed, who Mott called a “revelation”.
“We haven't put a complete game together and that's the frustration," the head coach said. "We put ourselves in with a chance to win all three games and come away with a series loss, so that's not ideal.
"But there are definitely some really good signs there that there's a group of players who love playing with each other. They're some really good mates in there and I think it'll really take the game forward.”
The tour now moves on to its T20 leg for a five-match series that is arguably the more important element of the trip, given the proximity of next year’s World Cup defence in the Caribbean and USA.
A number of senior players, including the likes of Chris Woakes, Reece Topley and Adil Rashid, have joined up with the squad having sat out the ODIs, while Andrew Flintoff is due to do likewise on Monday as he resumes his mentoring role on the coaching staff.
Mott is also hoping that the change of format will bring a return to form for Jos Buttler, who followed his much-needed half-century in the second ODI with a duck in the third, with the captain set to return to the top of the order in the shortest format.
“It's always good when you lose a series to change the format, you move on pretty quickly," Mott said ahead of Tuesday night’s opener. "Jos showed his class the other day and he may well, at the top of the order, come out and take the bowling on as he has done for for a number of years.
"Jos is a lock-in, definitely opening. It will be just what he needs to get up the top and really boss the game from the start and I know for a fact he's looking forward to it.”
