GR- EIGHT WHITE HOPE
Jos eyes T20 glory now
JOS BUTTLER wants England’s limited- overs tour to South Africa to deliver victory – and also the skeleton of a T20 team that can rule the world like Eoin Morgan’s ODI side.
England flew off to South Africa yesterday for a six- match white- ball tour split between the two formats, but with two T20 World Cups in the next two years, the priority has turned towards the shorter game.
They are unbeaten in their last seven T20 series and one- off internationals and for Buttler, 30, the key to success in India next October is to know their best team and to keep winning.
He said: “We want to win but we’re building towards a World Cup and one thing we did well in 50- over cricket was to win and learn at the same time.
“Winning gives you confidence and clarity and then it’s about trying to nail down your 15 for the World Cup.
“One thing we had in the 50- over side was that the team nearly picked itself by the end of that cycle and that’s a great place to be as a side.
“Heading into a tournament in high- pressure situations you are very familiar with your own role and what you expect from your team- mates.”
Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer and Sam Curran will all skip the ODI leg but will be on parade for the T20 matches in a significant hint as to where England’s heads are at with another T20 World Cup in Australia in 2022.
“With such a congested fixture list, it is always important for the ECB to find time for guys to be able to rest and get enough time away from the game to be in a good head space,” added Buttler.
“With two T20 World Cups around the corner, it seems that ODIS, just at the moment, are the ones guys look to be rested from.”
Buttler, who is likely to open the batting in T20, will play in both formats, despite been involved in the IPL with Rajasthan Royals for two months.
“This is a relatively short tour and with three ODIS I was very keen to go and play,” he said. “I’ve really missed ODI cricket.
“Since the World Cup I’ve only played three games, so I’m really looking forward to getting back in and amongst that team.
“In the summer I spent a lot of time away from my family, which was strange with them only an hour down the road, but having my family with me at the IPL was a huge plus for my well- being.”
England’s opening game of the tour is a T20 international against South Africa in Cape Town on Friday week.