Jos flexible despite huge opening run

JOS Buttler’s prolific form has inked him in as England’s Twenty20 opener, but he will drop down again if it is for the good of the team.

Buttler took his run of halfcenturies to a sprint-format world-best seven in eight innings as England nonetheless suffered an eight-wicket defeat against India at Old Trafford.

It is a sequence which began when Rajasthan Royals used the keeper at the top of the order in the Indian Premier League, and has continued on home soil.

Buttler’s brilliance could not offset a middle-order collapse to Kuldeep Yadav’s left-arm wrist-spin – unfamiliar to most in England’s ranks – before KL Rahul finished unbeaten on 101 as India coasted into a 1-0 lead with two to play in the Vitality IT20 series.

The onus is therefore on England to bounce back in Cardiff tomorrow, when the obvious starting point is to prove they can handle Kuldeep.

As for Buttler’s opening spot, he said: “It’s a fantastic place to bat... refreshing.

“Whether that’s me opening forever, I don’t know... I’d hope to retain the flexibility.

“I do think it’s the best place to bat, but it comes down to the make-up of the team.”

He attributes his improvement to mental preparation: “When I was younger I didn’t pay much attention to that or trust it enough – it was all about technique. Being calm allows me to make good decisions.”

That was not the case for the three who fell to Kuldeep in one over – Eoin Morgan mistiming a slog-sweep and Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root both stumped first ball off googlies.

Exposure to such skills is hard to come by in England.

“It’s very rare, and he’s a very good bowler,” added Buttler.

“It’s now down to the guys to gain an understanding.

“You see it a lot in international cricket that guys burst on to the scene, and then people get a handle on them.”

Buttler’s stint in India has given him, and a handful of team-mates, an advantage.

“One of the good things has been guys training with and playing against lots of players from around the world in the IPL.

“It helps to take away the mystery factor.”