Jos won’t take foot off the gas CRICKET
JOS BUTTLER is in no doubt. England must double down on their attacking instincts if they want to win the World Cup.
With just little more than two months until the biggest one-day tournament begins in the UK, England could be tightening up and conservatism creeping into their bold approach.
But Buttler, right, is in no mood to lift his foot off the throttle.
Fresh from a career-best
150 in the Grenada ODI, Buttler is gearing up for a stint in the Indian Premier League with Rajasthan Royals.
He said: “Getting to No1 was a goal ahead of the World Cup. Now it is about staying true to what we’re about, trusting the style.
“It won’t be a side who play cautiously who win the World Cup, it will be a side
z who play some brave and smart cricket.
“You need to stick to the things you’ve been doing to make you one of the favourites.
“Initially, we talked about if we were bowled out in 42 overs but had 300 on the board. But now we’re better than that.” Buttler hopes the IPL will help him prepare after taking a rest during the West Indies T20s. He said: “If you’re playing well in the IPL, that gives you confidence to take into theWorld Cup.
“A tournament of this magnitude demands you’re fully focused. I’m going there to win the IPL.”
Rajasthan Royals star Jos Buttler was talking ahead of the 2019 IPL, which begins this weekend. NOW up to No2 in the world rankings after completing the Grand Slam,Wales will travel in expectation after 14 wins in a row.
With Taulupe Faletau and, most likely, Rhys Webb to add to the side who won the
Six Nations, there is a rosy glow as they head East.
If the attack matches the defence,Warren Gatland’s side have a great chance. It doesn’t yet, as 10 tries in five games shows, so that is the major area for development during the warm-up Tests. The other priority is keeping Alun Wyn Jones under house arrest. Irreplaceable for his leadership, lineout and his lungbursting graft, the captain cannot be risked even on a shopping run.
Six Nations score 9/10
Australia, Fiji, Georgia, Uruguay.
Top group, beat Argentina in quarter-finals, Ireland in semi-finals and lose to New Zealand in final.
THEY played some devastating attacking rugby but when it mattered in Wales – and when it did not
JEDD O’KEEFFE hopes Sam Spinner can go one better than finishing second at Cheltenham by winning the Ryanair Stayers’ Hurdle at Aintree next month.
The trainer felt his stable star was back to his best in chasing home the brilliant Paisley Park in the Sun Racing Stayers’ Hurdle.
With Emma Lavelle’s champion unlikely to make Liverpool, O’Keeffe would be happy to take Sam Spinner to Merseyside and try to improve on his third place last April.
He said: “I was absolutely thrilled. It was great to see him back to pretty much his best. Marvellous, a really good team effort getting him back there,” said the Leyburn handler.
“He’s come out of the race 100%. We’re really happy with him.” at home against Scotland – England went missing.
The link in contrasting games was England’s inability to stem the tide once it had turned against them, which is a glaring faultline heading for a World Cup.
There will be plenty of moments in Japan when it will feel like the world is against them and if they cannot respond, the adventure will end early. On the plus side they do have Maro Itoje, Mako Vunipola, Courtney Lawes and Anthony Watson to return and maybe even Dylan Hartley, as a calming bench option, after the Calcutta Cup chaos.
Six Nations score 7/10
France, Argentina, Tonga, USA
Top group, beat Fiji in quarter-finals and lose to New Zealand in semi-finals.
TWO months ago, Ireland were being talked up asWorld Cup winners.That was before England beat them up and they staggered punch drunk through the other games.
The team who toppled the All Blacks has vanished. Can they restore themselves in the space of fourWorld Cup warm-up games? Unlikely.