Mumbai, Oct 22: With the series already out of their grasp, England are keen to end the five-match rubber against India on a high by at least winning the last two ODIs, visiting middle-order batsman Jonathan Trott said here today.
“I just think we haven't played as well as we did in England. I think India played well. They will admit they played a lot better than what they did in the summer. But there are two games to go and a good performance in those games would give us a spring while going back,” said the South Africa-born batsman, who made a splendid unbeaten 98 in the third ODI at Mohali which his team lost by five wickets to concede a 0-3 lead to the hosts.
Trott, however, begs to differ with the view that England's keenness to win the remaining games of the dead rubber was a case of damage control.
He was of the view that India played better cricket than the tourists in the series so far.
“It's definitely not a case of damage limitation. It's a case of realising that you haven't played well in the first three games. We haven't played up to our expectations,” Trott said om the eve of inconsequential fourth ODI at the Wankhede stadium here tomorrow.
“India have played better cricket. It's an opportunity in for us the last two games to put some good performances for the team as well as individuals.”
Asked about the differences in their performance back home and in the ongoing India tour, Trott said England failed to play well in key moments in the series.
“I can't pinpoint the exact reason. I think we lost key periods of the games or India played well in the key periods of the games. I think we played well the other night (at Mohali when England mustered 298).
