Jos Buttler in power-packed form as England extended unbeaten record over Sri Lanka this summer
Batsman's innings of 70 from 45 balls in fifth and final one-day international in Cardiff will enhance hopes of Test recall
JOS BUTTLER was in power-packed form again as England extended their unbeaten record over Sri Lanka this summer.
Buttler’s innings of 70 from 45 balls in the fifth and final one-day international in Cardiff will also further enhance his hopes of a Test recall.
England won by the crushing margin of 122 runs and secured the 50-over series 3-0, along with a tie and a washout. The Test series was safely tucked away 2-0 last month and only Tuesday’s Twenty20 match in Southampton remains.
Pakistan, who start their tour tomorrow with a three-day match against Somerset, are likely to provide much sterner opposition than Sri Lanka.
And the England selectors are considering bringing back Buttler to keep wicket for the First Test at Lord’s on July 14 – with Jonny Bairstow playing as a specialist batsman.
Buttler has not played Test cricket since being dropped before Christmas while England were playing Pakistan in the UAE.
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But with Nick Compton taking a break from cricket – he was going to be dropped anyway – there is a vacancy in the England line-up and Buttler might get the nod ahead of Durham’s Scott Borthwick, allowing either Joe Root or James Vince to bat at No.3.
On his one-day debut, Vince made his first half-century for England in any format as replacement opener for Alex Hales, who has a back niggle, while Joe Root was the mainstay with 93 from 106 deliveries.
Surprisingly, England’s berst batsman has reached the first week of July and hasn’t scored a century for his country.
Eoin Morgan’s brief stay included his 100th six for England in ODI cricket but he has now gone 21 international innings without a half-century.
Sri Lanka never looked like getting close to England’s total of 324-7 and were bowled out in the 42nd over. Every wicket fell to a Yorkshire player with David Willey collecting four, Liam Plunkett three and Adil Rashid two. Bairstow’s throw was responsible for a run out.
Meanwhile, England will take advice from the Foreign Office about whether to tour Bangladesh later this year.
A total of 20 people – mainly from outside Bangladesh - were killed in a terrorist attack in the capital Dhaka on Friday evening.
An ECB spokesman said: “The safety of our players and management, as well as supporters, is paramount and we will liaise closely with the Foreign Office. If they and our security manager advise that is unsafe, we will take the appropriate steps.”
Australia pulled out of a tour to Bangladesh last year and withdrew their team from the under-19 World Cup earlier this year. England are due to play two Tests and three one-dayers.
**The ICC have increased the zone for reviewed lbw decisions to be overturned from not out to out when shown as “umpire’s call.” From October 1, more than half of the ball must be hitting the outside of the stumps. Previously, it was the centre of the stumps.
This is good news for bowlers and will lead to more lbw dismissals.
