BUTTLER: PLAYING THEM GIVES YOU MOTIVATION

JOS BUTTLER believes he is hitting the ball as sweetly as ever after helping England to victory in the second T20 against Australia in Southampton. Buttler struck an unbeaten 77 off 54 deliveries to seal a series victory with seven balls to spare, and said: ‘It is amazing how it can turn around if you hang in there long enough. ‘I have really missed playing T20 cricket so I was looking forward to this series. ‘I love the format and I am feeling in good touch. When you play against Australia it gives you a lot of determination and the competition for places has really been driving me.’ Asked whether he sees himself as an opener in next year’s World Cup in India, Buttler replied: ‘It probably is my favoured position in T20. I’ve had most of my success at the top.’ Australia’s opening bowler Mitchell Starc said his team would have to reassess their plans for Buttler, who has scored 119 runs in this series off 83 balls. ‘When you get someone striking the way he has during the last two games, it’s obviously powerful for T20 cricket,’ said Starc. ‘We’ll have to chat as a group.’ England have called up Sussex opener Phil Salt for the one-day series starting in Manchester on Friday as cover for Jason Roy, who has a side strain. Meanwhile, the first live England-Australia game on BBC TV since 1997 was not helped when Michael Vaughan couldn’t get into the Ageas Bowl because the results of his latest test for Covid-19 had been delayed. Vaughan (left) ended up missing the whole of the Australian innings and the start of the England reply before he took his place behind the mic.