In the lead-up to the Super 8s phase of the T20 World Cup, England’s captain Jos Buttler is focusing on improving his batting form. Despite a record of 83 runs from 30 balls against South Africa in September, his recent performances in the SA20 league have raised some questions. He managed only 97 not out for the Durban Super Giants, while struggling to find consistency with scores of 12, 20, 15, 22, three, and one in other innings.
Buttler expressed confidence in his approach, stating, “I felt I was playing really well in the SA20 without getting scores.” He emphasized the importance of capitalizing on scoring opportunities in T20 cricket.
England’s Preparations for the T20 World Cup
On Thursday, the England team held a training session for the first time since their win against Italy. The squad had just arrived in Sri Lanka, where preparations intensified. Buttler engaged in extensive net practice, honing his skills under the guidance of fielding coach Carl Hopkinson, who utilized a wet tennis ball to help sharpen the captain’s reflexes.
Team Confidence in Buttler
His teammate Jacob Bethell weighed in on Buttler’s form, insisting there is no cause for concern. “He’s fine,” Bethell stated. “The options he has taken haven’t come off, but no one in that side is worried about Jos in terms of performance. He will come good when we need him in the big stages of this tournament.”
- Jos Buttler’s recent T20 scores: 12, 20, 15, 22, 3, 1.
- Claims confidence from past victory: England won 3-0 in a T20 series against Sri Lanka.
- Upcoming match: England vs. co-hosts Sri Lanka in the Super 8s phase.
Bethell himself is dealing with a finger injury sustained during the defeat against the West Indies. He will be evaluated before the crucial match on Sunday in Pallekele.
England’s Path in the T20 World Cup
England’s journey so far has been marked by narrow victories over Italy, Scotland, and Nepal, alongside a loss to the West Indies. Despite the rocky path through the group stage, Bethell remains optimistic, attributing a significant confidence boost to their prior series win against Sri Lanka, especially in their home conditions.
“We know the conditions, we know how a couple of the teams are going to play,” Bethell remarked. “We’re definitely, definitely very confident about this Super 8s.”
