England v India BOSS JOS!
Bulldog Buttler stays cool to put England in control
JOS BUTTLER was the man they said was only good for hit-and-giggle one-day cricket. He was a batsman too loose and too fancy-dan for the Test arena. He didn’t have the technique or the patience for mighty struggle. How wrong the cynics and sceptics have proved to be in this captivating summer. England’s most destructive batsman showed yesterday he could also be the most determined and dogged as he played a marvellously oldno.4 fashioned innings to make his team favourites to win this Fourth Test against India and the series. The sun-drenched crowd at the Ageas Bowl revelled in the brilliance of Buttler, conjuring an invaluable knock of 69 as England finished the third day on 260-8 – a lead of 233 runs. And he backed England’s spin twins Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid to bowl them to victory, saying: “We can definitely bowl India out for under 250.
Messy
“There is wear and tear on the wicket and rough outside the off stump. That is encouraging for Moeen and Adil. We are confident.”
In a low-scoring match of compelling twists and turns England have a mighty advantage on a wearing pitch. India have never scored more than 194 in the last innings to win a Test here.
It was all a far cry from a messy morning when Alastair Cook was out for another low score, making just 12, caught in the slips by a juggling catch by KL Rahul.
Out to the crease strode Moeen rather than England captain Joe Root at No.3, a curious, perhaps desperate experiment.
Moeen was at No.7 in the order in the first innings, where he had flourished.
Suddenly, he was up the order, allowing Root to retreat to preferred spot. India sensed weakness. Captain Virat Kohli laughed as Moeen walked out, and chirped endlessly at Root when his opposite number batted.
Certainly, the only way to justify this gamble was for it to work. It didn’t.
Moeen scrambled nine before edging Ishant Sharma to second slip, a low catch by Rahul confirmed after video review.
Root was in now with the score at 33-2, to join under-pressure opener Keaton Jennings. The latter batted solidly for 36 before a low skidder from Mohammad Shami trapped him lbw on the last ball before lunch.
The next delivery saw the exit of Jonny Bairstow for a golden duck as he attempted an instant booming drive. Bairstow was selected despite a hairline fracture of a finger.
Fluency
It was a fierce battle for advantage – with superb bowling from India confronted by gritted-teeth English batting.
Only 60 runs were scored between lunch and tea. But only two wickets fell. The second was a horror for England when Stokes called a sharp single and Root was run out on 48 by a direct hit throw from Shami.
Buttler joined the fray, and relished the struggle in a halfcentury partnership with Stokes who was eventually outwitted by sharp turn from Ravi Ashwin after a patient knock of 30.
England’s keeper was the one batsman who displayed fluency and reached his 50 with a commanding drive through extra cover as he led his side into a position of strength.
Sam Curran was a willing and able lieutenant after tea as the pair increased the scoring rate until India took the new ball.
Buttler was trapped lbw by Sharma for 69, but Curran was there on 37 not out at the close.