Buttler confirms talks over England captaincy as Stokes helps seal welcome win
Jos Buttler hopes to remain in his role as England's white-ball captain despite question marks surrounding his leadership.
Buttler confirmed that he wants to continue in the job after their disastrous World Cup is finally completed, starting immediately with both ODI and T20 legs of the Caribbean tour that leaves before the end of the month.
“Yes I would like to,” added Buttler. “I know Rob Key arrives so we can have some conversations with him and the coach and make a plan for that tour.”
He was speaking after England beat Netherlands to end a miserable run in India, with Ben Stokes able to leave his mark on the World Cup with a maiden tournament hundred that could yet secure Champions Trophy qualification.
The original purveyor of extraordinary innings, followed up Glenn Maxwell’s double hundred on one leg against Afghanistan the night before with a passable impression, overcoming his own physical struggles to club 108 from just 84 balls to power England to 339-9.
Moeen Ali to withdraw from PSL to focus on England ahead of World Cup
Chris Woakes added significant support with bat and then ball on the way to a 160-run victory that not only peeled them off the bottom of the table, but eased them up to seventh by virtue of a much improved net run rate. And this is where they intend to stay with a final win over Pakistan on Saturday which would guarantee them a place in the next Champions Trophy.
Clearly that wasn’t Stokes’ aim when he made the decision to end his ODI retirement and return to the side for the defence of their World Cup crown, but once it became the overriding objective following defeat to Australia, the Test skipper adjusted his target.
Should Buttler remain as skipper despite a disappointing tournament? Comment below
Jos Buttler has admitted his hopes to remain captainSome thought his priority should have been to get back home early and have the surgery on his left knee that has been inked in for next week in order to increase his chances of being fit for January’s Test tour.
But the 32-year-old wasn’t about to leave Buttler and the rest of his teammates behind and focus on himself when there was still a job to be done.
“He wants to be the man who stands up when the team needs him,” said Buttler. “And he’s got a long track record of doing just that. There was no suggestion at all that he would leave the tournament, that is not his style and we’re very lucky to have him do what he can for us.
“It is important for us to qualify for the Champions Trophy and we’ve got a huge game in Kolkata to come against Pakistan and we’ll be up for that.”
It was another smart innings from Stokes after England’s fast start, courtesy of Dawid Malan’s 87, came to a shuddering halt when Buttler and Moeen Ali were dismissed and the score read 192-6. Stokes had been dropped earlier on 41 too, but once he reached his fifty with the first six of his innings he put his foot down with five further blows over the ropes to put his side out of reach, much to the delight of his skipper.
The win came exactly 36 years to the day since England lost a World Cup final to Australia in India and while the prize on offer this time is far less glamorous it has focused the minds of Buttler’s side and they put in arguably their best performance so far.
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