On paternity leave, Jos Buttler will miss England’s third Twenty20 international match against Pakistan.
After leading England to a 23-run victory at Edgbaston on Saturday, which gave them a 1-0 lead in the four-match series after the initial game at Leeds was abandoned, Buttler left for London. He is soon to give birth to their third kid with his wife Louise.
He did not show up for the Cardiff training session on Monday afternoon, and it is thought that he will not play in Tuesday’s fixture. It is now unclear if he will make it back in time to participate in Thursday night’s series finale at The Oval, but it looks like he will be heading to the Caribbean on Friday to play in the T20 World Cup alongside the rest of the team.
Although the news may cause some short-term disruption for England, Buttler’s absence should guarantee that he remains part of the team for the whole of their World Cup campaign, which starts against Scotland on Tuesday, June 4 in Barbados. It was possible that he might miss a group-stage match because he had already said that he would be there at the birth.
As vice captain of England, Moeen Ali downplayed the importance of a change in leadership last week. “Obviously if it happens, then it’s a great honour – as it always is,” Moeen stated. “I’ll be alright. Nothing much will change—it’s just a matter of taking over from his work and he’ll take it again when he returns.
“Hopefully, the baby comes at the right time where he doesn’t miss too many games. For me, it’s just whatever will happen, will happen. [Deputising] is not really difficult, to be honest with you, because we speak often, me and Jos. We talk about other things, the team, and all that. We’re on the same page anyway.”
Buttler opened the batting and struck 84 off 51 balls, providing the foundation for England’s innings at Edgbaston on Saturday. Ben Duckett would bat at No. 4 in his absence, while Will Jacks and Jonny Bairstow would presumably go up a slot apiece. However, they could also add Sam Curran, a bowling all-rounder, to their lineup.
A case may also be made for Duckett to take Buttler’s position at the top of the order, allowing England’s first-choice batting lineup to bat as they probably will throughout the World Cup. Despite opening for the most of his T20 career, Jacks said on Monday that he is still “learning on the job” despite looking impressive on Saturday, smashing 37 off 23 balls from No. 3.
“It’s no lie that I’m new to batting at No. 3,” he stated. “The greatest thing I’ve discovered is the unpredictability of not knowing when I’ll go in: clearly, if I’m opening, it’s 0 for 0 every time, whether I bowl first or second. I know precisely what’s going to happen: I’m facing the swinging ball or, in the case of a spinner opening, I know what the field will be.
“[Batting at No. 3] is simply a different circumstance each time, which is primarily a mental issue. I know I have both the game and the technique. It’s simply getting used to coming in outside the Powerplay, in the fifth over: when do I put my foot on the pedal? Identifying what to do at the appropriate time is crucial. It’s all about the team, not you.
Mark Wood had a long bowl before Saturday’s match with his knee severely bandaged, and he might be in contention in Cardiff if England decide to be careful with Jofra Archer’s health after his international return. Despite England’s desire to give Tom Hartley his T20I debut before the World Cup, ESPNcricinfo knows he will not be included in this match.
In any event, Tuesday night’s match is threatened by inclement weather, however Jacks said that playing a truncated game may be beneficial preparation for the World Cup. “Preparation is not always ideal, but we have to be adaptable and T20 is all about thinking fast on your feet, and assessing the situation as quickly as possible,” he stated. “We’ll be ready for anything.”
