“It’s a constant effort as a side to keep trying to get better and push the limits of what we can reach as a team,” Williamson said. “You can only hope, as we saw from some of our leaders as youngsters, that we can continue to bring in players – just not of the quality that we have.” [the senior players] Bring on, because we’ve seen that in spades over the last seven weeks, but also in how they approach their cricket to try and move this team forward.
“I think we’ve seen that as well – so there are some good signs, for sure, in this recent period of time. It’s not over yet, but that’s where the focus is. When you come to these tournaments, it can be small margins.” [which determine] Whether we get further or not, but in the end, it’s about growing as a group and becoming a better cricket team. “I think the seven weeks were very valuable for us as a team: we wanted to go further, of course, but we will think about it and get a lot out of it.”
Williamson admitted that India had effectively taken his team out of the match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. “They didn’t really give us a whiff,” he said. “I suppose if you bat first and put 400 on the board, it will be a mark in the batting column and you go and try to do the job in the second innings. It was difficult there: the ball swung a lot in the beginning, so we had to work hard but credit to India.
“We didn’t create many significant chances that could really change the flow of the run in that first half, and it wasn’t for lack of effort. It was just quality from the opposition side and we were kind of looking. They did that.” “Well from the start. For us, it’s about taking it on the chin, taking those experiences to become a better side and moving forward.”
Williamson said he would have chosen to bat first if he had won the toss, and said conditions changed as the match went on. “It was a used wicket, but it was a really good surface,” he said. “Circumstances change when you’re under the lights… That’s OK: it’s what you expect, and they played really well.
“We would have hit too, but it’s a coin flip, right? You’re still trying to work no matter what you do.” [first]. They certainly made the most of this opportunity. It wasn’t all at stake, but they made the best of the circumstances they had. We were definitely doing our best [but] Things didn’t go our way today.”
“The injuries weren’t helpful – you never want them – but there was still some good cricket there, and we had a couple of close losses… We had our fair share of bits and pieces that go on, but that’s life. Most teams deal with something on any given day.” Of the days, but I think that’s the position that guys kept coming back to [was good]”.
19.30 GMT – This story has been updated with new quotes
