Buttler swears by it, but message on his bat may land him in trouble
Jos Buttler may face censure over the content of the coarse personal message he writes on his bat handle.
Buttler, England’s man of the match in their series-levelling innings win over Pakistan at Headingley, has penned the words “F*** it” at the top of each bat he uses in the middle.
He explains that it is his way of dealing with the ups and downs of his sport at the highest level.
But after television cameras focused on his bat following his unbeaten 80 as England moved towards victory in the second Natwest Test, beaming the footage around the world on Sunday, it is understood Buttler may be in trouble with the International Cricket Council.
There is precedent for ICC sanctions against players for contravening the world governing body’s clothing and equipment rules and regulations.
But whether further action is taken in this instance will depend on umpires deciding to lay a charge, and then on the response of ICC match referee Jeff Crowe.
Buttler, pictured, who has spoken previously about his reasons for needing a “message to self”, explained after this weekend’s victory why he believes it helps him. “I think it’s just something that reminds me of what my best mindset is – when I’m playing cricket, and probably in life as well,” he said. “It puts cricket in perspective. When you ‘nick off’, does it really matter?
“It’s just a good reminder when I’m in the middle, when I’m questioning myself, and it brings me back to a good place.”
Buttler was a surprise inclusion, in new national selector Ed Smith’s first Test squad, to return at No 7 after spending almost 18 months out of the team, a period in which his global reputation as a brilliant white-ball cricketer has continued to grow.
He has repaid the faith with back-to-back half-centuries. The 2018-19 William Hill World Darts Championship will include two women as part of an expansion and two-time champion Michael van Gerwen sees no reason why a woman cannot come out on top.
The competition, staged at London’s Alexandra Palace, will expand from 72 competitors to 96, with two female players coming through qualifying.
The prize for the winner will also increase to a record-breaking £500,000 as part of an overall fund of £2.5million.
Dutchman Van Gerwen said: “I think it is a big progression for darts. It is surprising.
“I don’t like losing to a woman or anyone, but why wouldn’t a woman be as good as a man?
“It will be good, it is a good sign, the prize is growing and the field is growing bigger. It’s phenomenal progression. It is a good step forward. Why not, why can’t women win?”
Current world champion Rob Cross says that it will move the game forward. “I think it is going to be amazing,” he said. “For the men the averages are higher than the women are throwing but there is no real reason why that is the case.
“Getting the exposure and doing things like that will bring the women’s game on and everyone will want to play at the Alexandra Palace. It will open the avenues and that is good. The game is only ever going to improve.”
The guarantee of women competitors is particularly pertinent given the Professional Darts Corporation’s decision to remove walkon girls in January.
“It is a bit of an experiment, a step into the unknown,” said PDC chairman Barry Hearn. “It’s a long-term project, we are giving them the opportunity. Some of them are good players, but they have to do it on a consistent basis. I wouldn’t have involved them if I was still working with 72 players.
“It has to be a level playing field for everybody and if people rise to the challenge and if they do then good luck to them. There’s no reason why women can’t throw darts as well as men.”