JOS THE BOSS!
Buttler batters Aussies to clinch series
There is a theory that Jos Buttler would be better off returning to the middle order, where he can play the role of england’s T20 finisher. Then there’s the reality.
As Buttler wrapped up a series win against Australia with a monstrous straight six off Adam Zampa that had his team-mates chuckling in disbelief, it was clear england had got their calculations right. By asking him to open, they are giving him as many balls as possible to make an impact.
And few make an impact quite like Buttler.
A majestic unbeaten 77 off 54 deliveries gave his team a 2-0 series lead and put england on top of the world T20 rankings, leapfrogging Australia. Victory in tomorrow’s finale will ensure they stay there. With little over a year until the World Cup in India, that is quite a statement.
The debate about who should open for england is a reflection of the top- order bias in a squad containing Jason roy (when fit),
Jonny Bairstow, Tom Banton, Dawid Malan and Buttler.
And it is a compliment to Buttler’s versatility that he is regarded as the likeliest to adapt to the middle order’s demands.
Yet since being promoted to open in 2018, he has made such a strong case to stay up top that the only real question ought to be who accompanies him.
Buttler now averages 51 as a T20 opener with a strike-rate of 157. It ain’t merely not broke, it’s working like a dream. Please, england, don’t fix it.
Of course, chasing down a competitive 158 on a lively surface could not be done alone, and Buttler was grateful for the companionship of Dawid Malan, who added another line to his T20 c.v. with an inventive 42 off 32 balls in a second-wicket stand of 87.
That left him with an average of 50.84 — a fraction ahead of Virat Kohli’s at the top of the world tree. he is becoming increasingly hard to ignore as england’s No 3. There was also a nod of gratitude to Moeen Ali, who came in with 23 needed off three overs after the loss of three quick wickets, including eoin Morgan, batting with an injured right ring finger he had dislocated in the field. Briefly, england threatened to replicate Australia’s meltdown on Friday evening, but Ali eased concerns by belting Zampa down the ground for 10 in two balls, before Buttler’s
coup de grace into the stands.
It all meant Bairstow’s sixth single-figure score in eight innings could be forgotten, if not necessarily the manner of his dismissal.
As he missed a pull against Mitchell Starc, his bat described a full circle and knocked off the bails — the first england player to hit his own wicket in Twenty20 internationals.
Buttler, though, was not in the mood for such generosity. he had 25 off 24 balls out of england’s 74 for one at the halfway stage, then spread his wings with familiar flourishes. There are few finer sights in world cricket.
earlier, england’s bowlers were electric during the opening overs of the Australia innings. As if stung by their captain’s frequent references to a lack of wickets during the powerplay, Jofra Archer and Mark Wood each struck immediately.
David Warner was caught behind off the glove for a third- ball duck during a magnificent first over from Archer, the batsman compounding his misfortune by instantly asking for a review.
had Ali succeeded with an underarm shy at the stumps from a few yards, Aaron Finch would have been out for a duck as well — and Archer would have begun with a double-wicket maiden.
Then, after Australia promoted wicketkeeper Alex Carey to No 3,
Wood had him caught behind playing an airy drive. At three for two, thoughts returned to last year’s 50- over World Cup semifinal, when the Australians slipped to 14 for three against England at Edgbaston and never recovered.
Steve Smith was run out that day, though not before he had made 85. Now, he got no further than 10 before chancing a single towards mid-on. Morgan came in quickly from short midwicket, gathered the ball in a flash, then underarmed it on to the stumps. Smith kept running, and Australia were 30 for three.
On Friday, Australia had collapsed in astonishing fashion towards the end of the game. Here, they seemed determined to get their stumble out of the way early. And their innings got worse before it got better.
Finch launched Adil Rashid straight for six, then chopped a ball from Chris Jordan on to his stumps for 40.
And it was 89 for five when Marcus Stoinis, having just reached 35 — his highest score in the format for Australia — dabbed the last ball of Rashid’s tidy spell to Malan at slip.
In the circumstances, and with just seven overs to go, Australia did well to reach 157 for seven, thanks to twenties from Glenn Maxwell and Ashton Agar, and 18 off Archer’s final over, which included three wides.
Australia, though, knew they needed wickets in the powerplay, but only Bairstow obliged. In desperation, they used up three of Starc’s overs at the start. Once England had weathered that storm, they were always favourites.
It is nearly two years since the Australians lost three T20s in a row. England’s challenge will be to leave them with memories that last all the way until India in 2021.