Cricket

Jos Buttler, England's white-ball captain, has been ruled out of the Hundred tournament due to a calf injury. The injury occurred during preparations for the competition, and an initial scan proved inconclusive. However, a subsequent assessment confirmed the severity of the injury, forcing Buttler to withdraw from the tournament.Buttler's absence is a significant blow to Manchester Originals, who have lost their first three matches in his absence. Phil Salt, Buttler's opening partner, has captained the team in his stead but has struggled for runs, scoring only 23 in three innings. The Originals' batting lineup has looked vulnerable without Buttler's presence.Buttler's injury history includes several calf injuries, including a strain two years ago that ruled him out of England's T20I series in Pakistan. The injury also threatened his participation in the 2022 T20 World Cup.Despite the setback, Buttler is expected to be fit in time for England's first T20I against Australia on September 11. Managing director Rob Key has confirmed that Buttler will continue as England's white-ball captain, with Marcus Trescothick serving as interim coach during the series.The Originals are yet to announce a replacement for Buttler, but they had initially lined up Keaton Jennings as a potential candidate. However, the move stalled due to confusion over Buttler's status, and Jennings has since signed for London Spirit.Buttler's injury is a reminder of the physical demands of modern cricket, particularly in the shorter formats. Calf injuries are common among fast bowlers and all-rounders, but they can also affect batsmen who rely on quick acceleration and agility.

India's approach to batting in the upcoming T20 World Cup semi-final against England has undergone a significant transformation since their conservative display in the 2022 semi-final. England had annihilated India by 10 wickets in that match, but India's head coach Matthew Mott believes his team has evolved since then."The way that they've approached it in the last couple of years is certainly taking the game on extremely hard in the power play," said Mott. "Rohit (Sharma) with the bat has led the way extremely well and shown leadership in that department, as has Jos Buttler for us."Mott highlighted India's remarkable consistency in reaching the knockout stages of ICC tournaments, despite their inability to win a trophy in over a decade. "What India has done incredibly well over the last few years is put themselves in semi-finals contention," he said. "But I think the consistency that they've shown over a length of time shows what a great group of players they are."England, on the other hand, have a point to prove despite being defending champions. They have not had the smoothest of runs in the competition, but Mott believes his team's best cricket is yet to come. "There's a general feeling that our best cricket is in front of us," he said. "I think we've been pretty good in patches, we've done some really good stuff over here, but we haven't put together that perfect game."The match is expected to be a close contest, with both teams possessing formidable batting lineups and skilled bowlers. "It's going to come down to on the day," said Mott. "If you take those key moments at the right time, you get over the line, if you don't, you go home."

Former Pakistan cricket captain Mohammad Hafeez has strongly criticized Jos Buttler's suggestion that the ICC calendar should be adjusted to avoid international matches clashing with the Indian Premier League (IPL).Hafeez expressed shock and disappointment over Buttler's statement, emphasizing that the honor of representing one's country should not be compromised for a tournament like the IPL. "It shocked me. The statement was given by Jos Buttler after coming out of the IPL season and representing his own country as a captain. He said that there should not be any international cricket clashing with IPL," Hafeez said on the Club Praire Fire podcast.Hafeez questioned the priority of the IPL over international cricket, stating that the pride of playing for one's nation should take precedence. He sought the opinion of former England captain Michael Vaughan on the matter, but was surprised by Vaughan's response.Vaughan acknowledged the dominance of the IPL as a "big juggernaut" and suggested that it is financially beneficial for cricket boards to allow their players to participate in the tournament. He expressed concern about the impact of the IPL and Pakistan Super League (PSL) on the English county game, which could lose players to these lucrative competitions.Hafeez's criticism highlights the ongoing debate over the balance between international cricket and franchise-based tournaments. While the IPL has become a global phenomenon, attracting top players and generating significant revenue, it has also raised concerns about its potential to overshadow international cricket.The ICC has a responsibility to ensure that the international cricket calendar is fair and equitable, allowing all teams to compete on a level playing field. It is important to strike a balance between the financial benefits of franchise tournaments and the integrity of international cricket.

IPL vs. International Cricket: A Clash of PrioritiesThe recent comments by England captain Jos Buttler, suggesting that international cricket should not clash with the Indian Premier League (IPL), have sparked a heated debate within the cricketing community. Buttler's remarks, made ahead of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024, have raised questions about the balance between domestic and international cricket.Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez has strongly criticized Buttler's stance, emphasizing the importance of national pride and duty. Hafeez argues that representing one's country should be the ultimate priority for any cricketer, regardless of financial incentives.Buttler's comments have also drawn support from former England captain Michael Vaughan, who acknowledges the growing significance of the IPL. Vaughan believes that the IPL's financial rewards and global reach make it increasingly difficult for international boards to compete.However, Hafeez questions the morality of prioritizing the IPL over national commitments. He argues that it sends the wrong message to young cricketers and undermines the spirit of international competition.The debate has also highlighted the potential impact on domestic cricket. Adam Gilchrist, another former England captain, points out that the IPL's schedule overlaps with domestic tournaments, forcing players to make difficult choices.The clash between the IPL and international cricket is a complex issue with no easy solutions. As the IPL continues to grow in popularity and financial clout, it is likely to continue to challenge the traditional hierarchy of cricket.However, it is crucial to ensure that the pursuit of financial gain does not overshadow the fundamental values of the sport. National pride, international competition, and the development of domestic cricket must remain at the heart of the game.

England's T20 World Cup 2024 campaign received a much-needed boost with a convincing victory over West Indies on Wednesday. Captain Jos Buttler led the charge, surpassing Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan as the designated wicket-keeper batter with the most runs in T20I history.Buttler's 22-ball 25 took his tally to 2,967 runs in the format, surpassing Rizwan's 2,952. No other player has scored more than 2,500 runs as a designated keeper.Buttler praised the performance of veteran spinner Adil Rashid, who conceded just 21 runs in his four-over spell and claimed the wicket of Andre Russell. "He has been all the time. He is our most important player. Has so many variations and restricts runs," Buttler said.West Indies struck early, dismissing Buttler and Moeen Ali. However, Jonny Bairstow and Philip Salt steadied the innings with an unbeaten 97-run partnership. Salt's blistering 30 runs in Romario Shepherd's over effectively ended West Indies' hopes."Bairstow-Salt partnership was very good. Jonny took the game deep and Salty broke it with that one over. Jonny batted at No. 4 today, a class player for a really long time. You keep backing class players. Incredible, mature, senior player's innings. People say you learn when you lose, but you learn when you win as well. Important to put this to bed and focus now," Buttler remarked.England's victory keeps their World Cup hopes alive, while West Indies face an uphill battle to qualify for the knockout stages.

England's Jos Buttler has hailed legspinner Adil Rashid as the team's "most important player" after their commanding eight-wicket victory over West Indies in the Super Eight match of the T20 World Cup 2024. Buttler also praised Jonny Bairstow for his "senior player's innings" that helped England chase down the challenging target of 181 with ease.England's victory was built on a solid bowling performance that restricted West Indies to a manageable total. Rashid played a crucial role, bowling a miserly spell of 4-0-21-1, including the crucial wicket of Andre Russell in the 17th over."We keep saying [Rashid] is our most important player, he really has been for a long time," Buttler said. "He's got so much variation and so much threat of taking wickets and also restricting runs."West Indies captain Rovman Powell admitted that his team was 15-20 runs short and strayed away from their plans against Salt. "We left 15-20 runs out here as a batting group," Powell said. "I will say that we should have put up a better display as a bowling group."England's chase was anchored by Phil Salt's unbeaten 87 and Bairstow's 26-ball 48 not out. The duo added 97 off 44 balls to see England home with eight wickets and 2.3 overs to spare."That was a really good performance from us," Buttler said. "We planned really well, we've been practising well and executed both with the bat and ball and deserved to win."Buttler was particularly impressed with Bairstow's innings. "He is a class player, he has been for a really long time," Buttler said. "That's what we decided to do, you just keep backing class players. He hasn't had many opportunities but today was an incredibly impressive innings. A really mature, senior player's innings. With a lot of power, he scored at a great gear when the game was just in the balance."England's victory puts them in a strong position to qualify for the semi-finals. They will face Australia in their next match on October 29.

Jos Buttler, England's captain, has expressed his support for Australia in their upcoming match against Scotland, as England's T20 World Cup hopes hang in the balance.England's victory over Namibia in Antigua was crucial for their qualification to the Super Eight, but the match was marred by a three-hour rain delay that threatened to wash out the fixture. Despite the challenging conditions, England managed to secure a 41-run win, with Harry Brook's unbeaten 47 leading the way.Buttler admitted that the rain delay had been stressful, but praised his team's performance under pressure. "We put in a really good performance," he said. "I thought everyone managed that situation well. We were well prepared when we did play, and we played well."England's victory may not be enough to secure their place in the Super Eight, as Scotland could still qualify if they defeat Australia in their final Group B match. Buttler acknowledged this possibility, saying, "We've done all we can do. We'll see what happens."Despite the uncertainty surrounding their qualification, Buttler remains optimistic about England's chances in the tournament. "We've dealt with everything that's been thrown at us really well," he said. "We've got a lot of talent in this team, and we're confident that we can go all the way."

England captain Jos Buttler has responded to criticism of his team's performance in the T20 World Cup, stating that he has been around long enough to understand what people are saying.England revived their campaign with a record-breaking victory over Oman by eight wickets in Antigua. The reigning champions needed a significant win to improve their net run rate (NRR) as they strived to surpass Scotland and qualify for the second-round Super Eights.England's triumph over Group B was nothing short of spectacular, setting a new record for the largest win in the history of the T20 World Cup when considering the number of balls remaining. This resounding success had a profound impact on England's NRR, propelling it to an impressive 3.081, surpassing Scotland's 2.16.Despite this remarkable achievement, England remained in third place with three points, trailing behind Scotland, who held the lead with five points."Thought the tone was set by the bowlers, take early wicket and restrict them. Job done today, another game in two days' time. Bowled brilliantly, there was extra bounce. Topley with his height... I thought they bowled a good line and length. Don't think anyone expected the wicket to play like it did, looked a really good surface. Just looked to be positive, try to take advantage of the NRR," Buttler said after the match.Buttler acknowledged that while negative feedback can be challenging, it also presents an opportunity for the team to reflect and improve. He stressed the importance of staying focused on their goals and maintaining confidence in their abilities, regardless of outside opinions."Been around long enough to know that people make comments. We know what's going on in the dressing room. We have another huge match to come. We can only control what we do, all focus is on that," Buttler added.England's victory over Oman has given them a much-needed boost in confidence as they prepare for their next match against South Africa on Saturday. A win against the Proteas would secure England's place in the Super Eights and give them a chance to defend their title.

England's T20 World Cup defense is back on track after a dominant performance against Oman. Led by Jos Buttler's captaincy and Adil Rashid's bowling brilliance, England secured a resounding victory, boosting their net run rate and putting them in contention for Super Eight qualification.Buttler praised his team's ability to block out external noise and focus on the task at hand. England's bowlers set the tone, with Rashid claiming 4 for 11 and Mark Wood and Jofra Archer each taking 3 for 12. Oman was restricted to a modest 47 runs, which England chased down in just 3.1 overs.Buttler's unbeaten 24 from eight deliveries sealed the victory, transforming England's net run rate from -1.8 to +3.08. This puts them ahead of Scotland, who currently sit at 2.16. England's progress depends on avoiding any further upsets or washouts in the remaining fixtures.Buttler acknowledged the criticism surrounding England's campaign but remained confident in his team's abilities. He emphasized the importance of the bowling display, particularly the effectiveness of Topley, Archer, and Rashid on the Antigua pitch.England's run-chase was ignited by Phil Salt's two sixes from the first two balls, a rare feat in T20I cricket. Jonny Bairstow's four in the final over sealed the victory. Buttler stressed the importance of positivity and taking advantage of opportunities to improve their net run rate.England's focus now shifts to their match against Namibia on Saturday. A victory will further enhance their chances of qualifying for the Super Eight. Buttler remains optimistic, stating, "We can only focus on ourselves. We've got a huge game against Namibia and all focus now is on that."