UNLUCKY HEATHER
JOS BUTTLER completed his transformation from luxury player to dependable pillar to take England nearer a historic whitewash.
Only twice have they won all three Tests or more away from home – South Africa in 1895-96 and New Zealand in 1962-63.
Buttler believes finishing the job in Sri Lanka would be a huge feather in the cap for a team steadily reaching the same heights as the white-ball side on and off the field.
He said: “To win 3-0 would be a fantastic achievement. We spoke a lot in the build-up that it was the focus of the side and that it is not done very often and we’ve stuck to our task.
“It would be a great step forward if we manage it. I’m sure Sri Lanka were favourites pre-series, so it would be a great accolade.
“Everyone is pulling in the same direction and winning matches helps, so we’ve come here with confidence and tried to replicate that feeling from the one-day group, but that takes time.”
The Lamborghini batsman, who can go from 0-60 in the blink of an eye and destroy an attack in a few short overs, has become England’s dependable Land Rover.
Only Joe Root, in three more matches, has scored more than Buttler’s 760 runs in 2018 to make his red-ball promotion in May arguably the selection of the year.
Picked as a specialist No.7 to add stroke-making to England’s Test line-up, made possible by England’s enviable number of all-rounders, Buttler has HEATHER KNIGHT defended her decision to bat first despite a thumping loss to Australia in the Women’s World T20 final.
England won the toss and opener Danielle Wyatt top scored with
43, but captain Knight with 25 was the only other player to reach double figures as the team were bowled out for 105 in 19.4 overs.
Australia’s Ashleigh Gardner then scored an unbeaten 33 and her side become something far more valuable.
So it was no surprise to see him at the crease with England 39-4, scrambling for a defendable target then score his seventh 50-plus score of the year and put his team on course for 230 all out and an imposing lead of 326.
“It’s been a good year considering I didn’t have Test cricket on my radar at the start of it,” added Buttler. “I’ve felt in good touch all year. I’ve enjoyed playing Test-match cricket went on to win by eight wickets in Antigua.
But Knight (below) claimed she had no regrets, saying: “We knew there would be dew – more dew than there was in the semis. We wanted to bat first though.”
The Southern Stars polished off the runs with 29 balls to spare in only 15.1 overs at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound. This was their fourth world T20 title and Gardner was named Player of the Match.