Jos Buttler simply decimated the acclaimed Pakistani bowling attack in the fourth ODI at Dubai. Buttler’s knock of 116* off just 52 deliveries included 10 boundaries and 8 maximums. With such a demolishing innings, Buttler sent a very stern message to his doubters ahead of the all-important tour of South Africa.
But Buttler, post the game said that he wants to excel further, and wants to emulate the success achieved by South African batting icon AB De Villiers. “As everyone always says, the invention of Twenty20, De Villiers is someone who has changed the game completely. Everyone else is wanting to follow his lead,” said Buttler.
Acknowledging the brilliance of De Villiers, Buttler said, “The consistency De Villiers shows is mind-blowing, to score at that rate. Everyone is watching the game evolve, and every player is a cricket fan, so they watch a lot of cricket. To see guys like him and all the others who do that sort of thing, you want to emulate that.”
After being dropped from the side during the series, Buttler said that it was hard to put a depressing time behind him. “To come back to this ground, having been dropped after the Test match here and have a bit better day is obviously immensely satisfying,” Buttler said. “I think we were lost for words in the changing room. So many were used to describe it — but one that wasn’t was a surprise. We’re very privileged to work, train day in day out with Jos. The ability he shows there all came together for him. It was just absolutely incredible — certainly the best one-day knock I’ve ever seen in an England shirt.”