Adil Rashid looked like he would get a wicket every over - Jos Buttler

Jos Buttler, the England captain, praised legspinner Adil Rashid for essaying an important role in England's comprehensive win over India in the second semifinal at the Adelaide Oval. Rashid finished with figures of 1 for 20 from his four overs, playing a key role in England restricting India to 168/6 on a pitch where 180-200 would have been much more competitive.

"I thought the bowlers were outstanding. Adil Rashid I thought had his best day for a while. He was so tough to play. I thought he looked like getting a wicket every over. I thought he was outstanding," acknowledged Buttler at the press conference following England's 10-wicket win on Thursday (November 10). "He's been brilliant for a long, long period of time. I've worked with him a lot. I have a great seat to watch him go about his business.

"He bowls with so much variation, and he's got as much variety as anyone really. I think he's been bowling really well actually. I think he may not have picked up the wickets that he usually does, and certainly from the outside some people said he wasn't bowling as well, but certainly from within the group, you come and face him in the nets, he's been bowling well. Tonight he was exceptional. I think wicketkeeper, bowler, we have a good relationship. Obviously he's very close to Moeen, and they work together a lot on their spin bowling.
"I've thought the way they've worked and the way they've communicated about what's working on the wicket and what looks good -- obviously Moeen stood at slip a bit as well tonight, so that communication was perfect. He bowled the right style today," said Buttler.

The England skipper was also pleased with the performance of Chris Jordan, who got his first game in this World Cup coming in as a replacement for the injured Mark Wood. Although he ended up conceding 43 runs, Jordan picked up key wickets and bowled three straight overs in the death.

"And special mention I would say as well to Chris Jordan, to come into such a high-pressure game not having played so far in the tournament, and I asked a huge amount of him there to bowl three overs straight through at the death against such a great hitter of the ball like Hardik Pandya. That's a hell of a performance from Chris Jordan.

"I think the way they played in the back 10 overs they scored heavily in that period, which I think showed what a good wicket it was. The dimensions can be tough to defend, as well. So yeah, I was confident in the wicket. I thought the first 12, 14 overs of our bowling innings was outstanding. I think taking that early wicket, the way we set them back, the way we held them put a lot of pressure. Fantastic innings from Hardik Pandya to get them up to that score.

Buttler spoke about his confidence in deciding to chase, despite some late hitting from Pandya which powered India to a par score. "I was confident to chase today. I said, again, before the game, par scores don't interest me that much. It's about winning on the day. I think there's a sort of stat, as well, saying if you win the toss here, no one has won the game, so I was glad to try and change that one. Yeah, didn't really have huge feelings either way about the toss, but my gut was saying we'd like to chase," added Buttler.

In contrast to India's slow start, England raced away in the chase, managing 63 in the powerplay and 98 at the halfway stage of the innings. Buttler, who was involved in a record partnership of 170 with Alex Hales to star in England's thumping victory, was lavish in his praise of his opening partner.

"I think Alex would have played as much Big Bash cricket as anyone, and his performance tonight was amazing," said Buttler when asked if the Big Bash League experience helped England in exploiting the boundary dimensions. "I think it's some huge strengths of his, square of the wicket, which obviously today on this kind of grounds really is great.

"He's [Hales] a tough guy to bowl at. He's been obviously performing really well for a long period of time. Unfortunately hasn't been able to get back in due to other players playing brilliantly well, as well. A few circumstances and that opportunity has arisen, and he's come in, and the last three matches especially, his form has been brilliant, and he was great to just tuck in behind tonight and bat at the other end," said Buttler.