ENGLAND VS AUSTRALIA, 2nd Q20I
Morgan scored 77 * of 54 in the second T20I against Australia © AFP
At no point did it appear that England were not going to chase Australia’s total in the second T20I. A similar score had proven difficult to chase in the first game, and when England lost three wickets in the 22-ball space shortly after the one hundred mark, history, for a moment, looked like it was about to repeat itself. Except Jos Buttler was still in the fold. And while batting, things never seemed to be in danger of going wrong.
Lately, there has been a debate about whether Buttler should start or hit in the role of England’s finalist in T20 cricket. That debate has come more in light of the strengths of the other players at England’s disposal than of Buttler’s own abilities. It’s a class act in both roles. But England’s middle-order hitting is an area they need to improve. Eoin Morgan, the captain, has admitted it. Moving Buttler down the order would instantly rectify that problem.
But then you watch Buttler play like he has against Australia in these two matches so far, you can see why Morgan wants him at the top of the order to face as many balls as possible in T20 cricket. In game one he was all aggression and power, breaking his way to 44 with just 29 balls. Australia simply had nowhere to go. In Sunday’s game, Buttler was more reserved at first, aware that losing early ground would probably be the only way England would lose, and then saw his team at home cool-headed and clear-eyed thinking later. Buttler is a two-in-one player; a brutal opener who is also a dead-eyed finisher.
The England goalkeeper, of course, has spent most of his limited career in England in the middle order. He has batted between number four and seven in 52 of his 63 innings in T20I. He still bats in the middle order in ODI cricket, although Morgan often moves him up the order to capitalize on good starts. So Buttler knows what it takes to chase tough totals. He has done it for England on numerous occasions.
The way he planned the chase on Sunday was masterful. He got in smoothly, moving to 25 of 24 balls, and then accelerated, not letting the required pace get too high and without looking nervous, even as England lost those three fast wickets.
“It was one of those terrains where I felt like you needed a few balls under your belt to get used to the rhythm,” Buttler said. “Once I went through Powerplay, the game was set up as a one-day chase. It didn’t matter that I opened [sic], I saw him as if he was entering the middle order in a one-day game and the equation was to chase those races. ”
Since England moved Buttler up in 2018, after a notable IPL season for the Rajasthan Royals in that same role, he has averaged 42.88 with a strike rate of 159.50. It is a remarkable record. Although England’s captain said after the match that he would continue to review the composition of the top three given the strength of the options England have available in that area of their squad, it’s hard to see how England can move Buttler when he’s playing. this well in the opening role.
“It’s probably my favorite position to hit in T20 cricket,” Buttler said. “I’ve had most of my success at the top and I think it’s natural – the top three in T20 cricket is the best place for anyone. We probably have eight or nine guys who would raise their hands to hit in the top three. I’m here. very happy there, but also very happy to do what the team needs from me. I have played much of my career in T20 and a cricket batting day in between, so I feel very comfortable doing that too. It’s up to the coach and the captain. ”
There was a moment in the England chase that summed up the difficulties Buttler presents to rival teams. On Ashton Agar’s second over, Buttler hit the third ball over cover and the ball ran away toward a boundary. It looked as if he had miscalculated the ball and yet he beat the fielder on the edge comfortably to his right. Hagar moved the main rectum. On the next ball, Buttler reverse swept Agar by four, to the left of the fielder at the boundary who had just moved straighter.
Hagar simply turned to her captain, Aaron Finch, spread her hands, and shrugged as if to say how am I supposed to play this guy?
Right now, it’s hard for any bowler to keep the 29-year-old quiet. Buttler thinks he’s hitting the ball as well as ever. “I think so,” he said. “It’s amazing how you can turn around, isn’t it if you stay there long enough? I’ve really missed playing T20 cricket and was looking forward to this series because it’s been a long time since I’ve played white ball. Cricket.
“It’s something that I really enjoy playing, I love the format and I feel in good contact. When you play Australia it gives you a lot of determination to play well and I think the competition for places on the side has really been driving.” I also. The guys have been coming in and playing well and when you lose, you feel that pressure, so to come back you feel like you have to play well. ”
Buttler is certainly playing well and Sunday’s innings, for now at least, settled the debate over whether England should start with him or hit him lower. And if the old adage is true that a team should always seek to do what the opposition least wants, then Buttler should stay at the top of the order. The more balls they have to throw at him, the more damage he can do.
© Cricbuzz
