HE’S JOS THE JOB
Brilliant Buttler blasts England to series win over Aussies
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 lead going into tomorrow’s series finale, and a chance for england to knock Australia off the top of the T20 rankings. With little over a year until the World Cup in India, that would be 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.
‘I have really missed playing T20 cricket, so I was looking forward to this series,’ he said afterwards.
‘I love the format and I’m feeling in good touch. When you play against Australia, it gives you a lot of determination to play well and the competition for places in the side 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 to bat in T20 cricket. I’ve had most of my success at the top.’
Of course, chasing down a competitive 158 on a lively surface could not be done alone, and Buttler was grateful for the companionship of 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 night, but Ali eased concerns by belting Zampa down the ground for ten in two balls, before Buttler’s coup de grace into the stands.
It all meant that 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.
After Australia promoted wicketkeeper Alex Carey to No 3, Wood had him caught behind playing an airy drive. Steve Smith was run out for ten and Australia were 30 for three.
Aaron 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.