Jake Ball is hoping for a better return on England\'s plans as they prepare for the second One-Day International (ODI) against India in Cuttack on Thursday.
With the series hanging in the balance the Notts paceman is all too aware of the threat facing his side from Virat Kohli, who played a true captain's innings to score his 17th hundred in an ODI run chase in India's three-wicket win.
England posted a highly competitive 350 for seven as they looked to get their ODI and T20 tour off to a winning start.
Ball, who finished the match with figures of 3-67, then helped England into the driving seat when he removed MS Dhoni for six to reduce the hosts to 63 for four early on their reply.
However, Kohli and the incoming Kedar Jadhav put on 200 as their side pipped the tourists to the post with 11 balls to spare.
Reflecting on the loss, the 25-year-old was philosophical: “It’s the modern game, isn’t it, when you’re looking at 350 and you’re thinking have you got enough? I think it just shows how the game has developed and how players have developed.
“It’s hard at the minute but we’re working on things in the nets and hopefully we can put those into practice.
“You get good players in county cricket but [with] international cricket, it’s the whole way down the order. You’ve got players coming in at six and seven that can quite easily clear the ropes and I think just the mentality of the game, it’s all attacking cricket now. Players are going through and constantly looking to attack.
“The bar is constantly going up and up. I think the average score is just going to keep getting higher and when you’re playing on the flat pitches that we seem to be playing on, and the smaller boundaries, the bar’s only going to get higher.
“It’s difficult as a bowler but we’re working on things. If you bowl a ball you think is a good ball and they hit it for four or six, then you have to hold your hands up and say well played at times.”
Managing the talisman
So how do they manage the talisman Kohli?
“I saw a lot of him in the Test matches, he started [in the ODI series] the way he finished there so he’s obviously an unbelievable player. He’s the best player in their team.
“When you’re out there and the crowd are going and everything’s getting on top of you, it’s quite easy just to forget about your basics and forget about things that you do well. The best thing you can do is take your time, clear your head and make sure when you end at your mark you know exactly what you’re going to be bowling.
“Our plans haven’t changed too much. It’s a difficult one because he is playing so well but I think if we stick to executing those plans, hopefully it will work.”