Friday 24 June 2016 13:33, UK
David Willey reflects on Trent Bridge tie with Sri Lanka, Liam Plunkett's big-hitting heroics and Jason Roy's stunning catch.
I don't think I have I have been involved in as exciting a finish as the tie at Trent Bridge on Monday night.
There have been some fantastic games in the last 12 months with England, so we're getting accustomed to drama like that, but the way 'Pudsey' (Liam Plunkett) came in and cleared the ropes with the last ball was just incredible.
There are a lot of guys in the team that can whack it a long way, but Pudsey is up there. If there's one guy in the team who can go in and do that from ball one, he's the man.
We bat all the way down to number 11, so it gives us great belief as a side. We looked down and out though when six wickets down for not very many, so we owe a lot to Woaksey (Chris Woakes) and Jos (Buttler) to even get us into that position.
Jos is such a dangerous player. It was a shame he couldn't get to three figures and see the side home, but the way he constructed his innings and the partnership he had with Woaksey was of the highest quality.
I struggled when I came in. I could barely lay bat on ball. My approach to my innings was probably wrong in hindsight, but when I went out there I thought if I could clear the ropes a couple of times, it would make the target a lot easier.
As it happened, it had the reverse effect, and it was probably the best thing for the team in the end that I was given out - even though I was close to being given a second chance off a no-ball - because it gave Pudsey more time to have a few sighters.
We just want to win games of cricket, so whoever wins us those games it doesn't matter. This was only a tie maybe, but it felt like a moral victory for us.
It was quiet back in the dressing room, there was a little bit of anxiety that it might have been too little too late. But there was always hope we'd get across the line, especially with the way Woaksey batted in such a difficult situation.
It showed the quality player he is - a record score for a number eight in ODIs. I'm really pleased for him.
He was also a new opening partner for me with the ball in the game. We've all got our individual plans as bowlers, but if we do our skills correctly, then hopefully it comes together as a pair.
We were a little bit loose early on, probably gave them a few too many easy early boundaries which was disappointing and took the pressure off them a little bit, but we managed to claw that back with some wickets.
One of them was thanks to a brilliant catch at backward point by Jason Roy to remove Kusal Perera. I mentioned his questionable footballing skills in my last column - he's got better hands than he has feet!
During warm ups with the football at practice the other day, he was terrible again, but he is an unbelievable fielder and he probably saved me a fair few runs at point as well taking that catch.
That sort of performance in the field gives you more belief as a bowler, especially if you're maybe struggling to hit your areas. The odd stop or catch can give you that little bit of confidence.
Despite all that, we didn't played anywhere near our best at Trent Bridge - 10 to 15 per cent down, if not more, on our usual standards, in all three facets of the game.
We're very honest with ourselves as a team and so know we need to improve, but we still managed to come away with a tie, so it sets us up nicely for the rest of the series, knowing if we do play better cricket, we should be in a very strong position to come out on top.
It's off to Edgbaston next and I remember very clearly the game there against New Zealand last year when we scored 400.
I didn't play in it, but it was one of the first games I was involved in the England squad for, and I remember the atmosphere at the ground that day was unbelievable.
The cricket too was another level. It was just mind-boggling watching the ball fly to all parts. It was incredible to be a part of and it has had a huge part to play in the cricket that we've played since.
A year on and we're still trying to improve and become a better one-day team. Hopefully we can put on another show on Friday night.
Watch David Willey in action in the second ODI between England and Sri Lanka at Edgbaston, live on Sky Sports 2 from 1.30pm on Friday.
