BUTTLER WILL CONTINUE TO LEAD THE WAY
England will persist with Jos Buttler as opener for this afternoon’s Twenty20 decider against South Africa at Centurion, writes DAVID CHARLESWORTH.
Buttler has partnered Jason Roy at the top of the order at East London and Durban but his recent lean spell in Tests has transferred to T20s and scores of 15 and two has led to speculation he could drop down to five or six.
There is a growing clamour for Jonny Bairstow to be bumped up one place, so he and Roy can attempt a double act that has proven hugely successful in one-day internationals, where the pair have 11 century partnerships in 35 innings.
Their average of 67.51 is the highest from any opening combination with more than 1,000 ODI runs together but England will resist the temptation to unite the pair, keeping faith with Buttler.
The wicketkeeper-batsman is yet to make a half-century in any format this winter but three of his seven T20 fifties have come as an opener and he averages 40.14 there with a phenomenal strike rate of 156.98.
England captain Eoin Morgan is convinced the top-three in its current guise is the best option for England, whose dramatic two-run victory over the Proteas at Durban set up a winner-takesall clash this weekend.
When asked whether he was contemplating moving Buttler down the order, Morgan replied: “Not for Sunday, definitely not.
“Jos is one of our greatest white-ball cricketers, as a batsman, never mind with the gloves.
“We believe him, Jason and Jonny are our top-three at the moment, moving forward.”