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Jos Buttler delivered a true captain’s performance England‘s victory New Zealand at the Twenty20 World Cup on Tuesday and bodes well for the rest of the tournament, former captains said.
England’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals hung by a thread after defeat by Ireland and with their match against Australia washed out last week.
But they breathed new life into their campaign by beating New Zealand by 20 runs on Tuesday, with Butler named Player of the Match after smashing 73 runs and taking a diving catch to dismiss Devon Conway.
“After an indifferent start to the tournament, Buttler had to lead from the front in Brisbane,” wrote Mike Atherton in the Times.
“And (he) did that, with good judgment at the toss, top-scoring and then the reply in the field in fine style, including a top-class catch down the leg side…
A defeat would have been anything but terminal and to play so confidently and intelligently, with such verve and zeal, in those circumstances bodes well for what is to come.
Buttler also earned praise for his tactics, including the decision to use five bowlers in the first six overs of New Zealand’s innings.
“It was one of (Buttler’s) best games as captain. In his 100th T20 international he really stepped up,” Eoin Morgan, who was replaced as captain by Buttler in June, told Sky Sports.
“Every opportunity he had to influence the game, he tried to take a wicket. He brings Mark Wood back into the game, starting with spin, spin five bowlers for the first six overs.
“He uses all his experience and he flies high. I thought he controlled his emotions very well and made brilliant decisions.”
Former England captain Nasser Hussain told Sky Sports that Buttler had “obviously done his homework in terms of matches”.
England’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals hung by a thread after defeat by Ireland and with their match against Australia washed out last week.
But they breathed new life into their campaign by beating New Zealand by 20 runs on Tuesday, with Butler named Player of the Match after smashing 73 runs and taking a diving catch to dismiss Devon Conway.
“After an indifferent start to the tournament, Buttler had to lead from the front in Brisbane,” wrote Mike Atherton in the Times.
“And (he) did that, with good judgment at the toss, top-scoring and then the reply in the field in fine style, including a top-class catch down the leg side…
A defeat would have been anything but terminal and to play so confidently and intelligently, with such verve and zeal, in those circumstances bodes well for what is to come.
Buttler also earned praise for his tactics, including the decision to use five bowlers in the first six overs of New Zealand’s innings.
“It was one of (Buttler’s) best games as captain. In his 100th T20 international he really stepped up,” Eoin Morgan, who was replaced as captain by Buttler in June, told Sky Sports.
“Every opportunity he had to influence the game, he tried to take a wicket. He brings Mark Wood back into the game, starting with spin, spin five bowlers for the first six overs.
“He uses all his experience and he flies high. I thought he controlled his emotions very well and made brilliant decisions.”
Former England captain Nasser Hussain told Sky Sports that Buttler had “obviously done his homework in terms of matches”.