The veteran English wicket-keeper batsman Jos Buttler has left the bio-bubble in Southampton in order to join his family and now he will be missing the 3rd T20I against Australia, scheduled for September 8 at the Ageas Bowl. He will be returning back to the England team ahead of the 3-match ODI series, starting September 11 in Manchester, but only after clearing the mandatory Covid-19 tests.
In a statement regarding the same, the England and Wales Cricket Board said, “England batsman Jos Buttler left the bio-secure bubble yesterday evening following the team’s victory over Australia to be with his family. Buttler, subject to testing, will return to the bio-secure bubble on Thursday ahead of the first ODI of the Royal London Series at Emirates Old Trafford on Friday.”
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After played a match-winning knock of 44 off just 29 balls in the 1st T20I, Buttler anchored England’s chase in the 2nd T20I on Sunday in Southampton to help his team seal the series 2-0. He smashed 77 runs in just 54 balls and carried his bat as England gunned down a tricky 158-run target in the penultimate over of their chase.
Talking about him during a chat with BBC, England’s captain, Eoin Morgan said, “When Jos Buttler is in the form he is, he’s one of the best players in the world. Australia actually bowled and fielded well today, but there are some batsmen in the world who can take the game away from you and Jos is one of those.”
Australia fast bowler, Mitchell Starc also went on to praise Buttler who held his nerve and played the finisher’s role to perfection on Sunday in the 2nd T20I.
Starc explained, “I don’t think there are too many that bat exactly like Jos. He’s someone who moves around the crease a lot, so does Smithy I guess. In terms of an opener batting through and being quite destructive through the powerplay, then getting the team home, like he did today, that’s probably what you want your opening batters to do I guess.”
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Having taken an unassailable lead of 2-0 in the series, England will be eyeing for a whitewash against the Aussies when the two teams meet in the final T20I on Tuesday.
