Aggression and Jason Roy’s productive training session were key in Jos Buttler’s fiery innings against Australia in Dubai; England will play Sri Lanka on Monday, live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event starting at 1.30pm, seeking a fourth consecutive T20 World Cup victory.
Jos Buttler (right) says the way Jason Roy (left) took on Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins inspired him against Australia
Jos Buttler says he was inspired by starting teammate Jason Roy during his 71 blisters, not out of 32 deliveries in Australia’s eight-field beating in the T20 World Cup.
Buttler’s five sixes and four fours led his team to their goal of 126 with 50 balls in reserve on Saturday as England scored three straight wins after defeating the West Indies and Bangladesh in their first two games.
Roy (22 of 20) played his role in a 66-run position with Buttler on the power play, hitting Josh Hazlewood’s first pitch for four in the second over and then hitting Pat Cummins for a crisp six in the third.
Buttler said before England’s clash with Sri Lanka in Sharjah on Monday: “You feel quite inspired by Jason on the other end when he’s running the first ball against Hazlewood and running against Cummins.
“These are the best bowlers and the way they can assert themselves inspires the other extreme.
“We didn’t have any pressure on the scoreboard. To keep imposing ourselves on the opposition is the way we have defended trying to play.
“We’re not trying to play it safe, so if we talk that way, we’ll have to go out there and play that way as well.
“Some of the practice grounds have been a bit tricky, but I managed to get a great practice last night.
“I think all the hitters enjoyed the practice. It’s good to run your hands through some again, have fun and have freedom.”
England have pitched first in each of their three games so far.
That was by choice against the West Indies and Australia, while against Bangladesh, the Tigers captain Mahmudullah asked England to pursue after winning the toss.
The West Indies shot 55 in 14.2 overs, while Bangladesh held at 124-9, before Australia was ruled 125 in precisely 20 overs.
On the huge impact the draw has had on England’s results, Buttler added: “I wouldn’t say we’ve seen a huge benefit.
“We have tied in the opposition very early, so I think we have restricted teams to sub-par scores. As the tournament progresses, as the grounds get more tired, maybe the advantage will shift to hitting first.
“I think that’s a challenge that we’ll have to solve as a team. If we lose the toss, or choose to hit first, how are we going to focus our innings to get to a score that we think is defensible?”
The victory over Sri Lanka would secure England a place in the semi-final, with their net race rate incredibly healthy after their three complete victories.
Watch England vs Sri Lanka live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 1.30pm on Monday.
