Buttler gives his backing to captain
JOS BUTTLER was bemused at speculation over Eoin Morgan’s England future, insisting everything the limited-overs captain has achieved “doesn’t just go away overnight”.
Morgan has revolutionised England’s white-ball fortunes and led them to a first 50-over World Cup crown in 2019, but he is without a half-century in one-day internationals and Twenty20s in almost a year.
He registered two successive ducks against the Netherlands and missed yesterday’s eight-wicket victory which completed a 3-0 ODI clean sweep due to a tight groin, an injury he first suffered last month.
His absence was described as precautionary but even if form and fitness issues persist, Buttler, who stood in as skipper for the final match against the Dutch, insisted Morgan retains the team’s backing.
“There’s certainly no questioning of his position from within the camp,” said Buttler, whose unbeaten 86 from 64 deliveries helped England overhaul a victory target of 245 in just 30.1 overs.
“I can’t put into words what he’s achieved. Everyone always talks about his captaincy but you forget what a brilliant batsman he’s been for England in over 200 ODIs, that doesn’t just go away overnight. Everyone in the team is backing him.”
Test captain Ben Stokes was even more forthright in his defence of his white-ball counterpart.
“Well, he’s only had two low scores so I wouldn’t say he’s going through a hard time at the moment,” said Stokes on the eve of England’s third Test against New Zealand at Headingley. “I think the press are the only ones giving him a hard time and I think the players have shown it’s not an issue with them.
“People are allowed to not score many runs and more than that he’s our captain. He’s a phenomenal leader and always will be so I’ve got no issues with anything going on with him at the moment.”
Meanwhile, Jamie Overton will make his England debut in the Headingley Test after edging out twin brother Craig as a replacement for the injured record wicket-taker James Anderson. It is the only change to the home XI for the conclusion of the LV= Insurance Series finale.