England fell to another defeat in the deciding T20I•Getty Images
There is also no shame in losing to a West Indies team that has defeated South Africa, India and now England in consecutive series.
“I hope so,” Buttler replied when asked whether this series had contained two of the world’s best T20 teams. “Two really good teams and we had a fantastic series.
“We don’t play together as a team now [until May] but everyone’s going to be playing lots of T20 cricket in different tournaments around the world so that’s a plus. Hopefully we can come here and look forward to a really good World Cup.”
Buttler highlighted death bowling as an area of particular improvement that England will look at, with the potential return of Jofra Archer a major cause for optimism.
“It’s been good to be in these conditions and [to] have a look at what might work in those scenarios. I think if you can execute your yorkers they’re still the best ball in T20.
“I haven’t spoken to Jof. Obviously I saw him in Barbados, it was good to see him back in training with us and bowling well. I know the medical team and staff have got a good plan for him and I think I speak on behalf of all England cricket fans and cricket fans around the world that we want to see Jof back and back for good. So I think it’s important that he takes his time.”
In the final two T20s, Buttler opted against wicketkeeping, with the gloves handed over to Salt. Mott had said he expected Buttler would return behind the stumps for the decider, but the captain remained in the outfield and appears open to the option of staying there for the World Cup.
“I’ll probably take a few days to reflect on that. It’s nice sometimes during the over to be closer to the bowler, but when you’re keeping wicket you can always run down and run back. It’s just a sort of stereotypical thing from the outside that it’s slow or it doesn’t look right. So, I don’t know. I like the view as a wicketkeeper behind the stumps, to be able to see exactly what’s happening, but I enjoy fielding as well. So I don’t really have any huge preference either way to be honest at the moment.”
Cameron Ponsonby is a freelance cricket writer in London. @cameronponsonby