T20 World Cup: There are concerns over Jos Buttler’s struggles with England, but Will Jacks continues to impress | Cricket News

“Can I play with you every week?”

This chant is often heard inside soccer stadiums, for example, when a team immediately wins 4-0 against their opponent.

It’s also one of the matches that England cricket supporters may be overjoying, as the England team continues their momentum by crushing Sri Lanka in the T20s, despite losing the World Cup victory at Palekele.

England have now won their last 12 T20s against their opponents, including a convincing 3-0 victory in the pre-World Cup bilateral series, also played at Palekele. Sri Lanka have not beaten England in this format since May 2014 at Kier Oval.

It feels like so long since Jos Buttler last scored an important goal for his country.

I’m joking, of course, but Buttler’s last big score for England actually came in September last year, when he scored back-to-back ODI fifties at home against South Africa and scored a 30-ball 83 in a T20I against the same opposition, with whom his team amassed 304-2.

But since then, the former skipper, dubbed a “powerhouse” by current captain Harry Brook, has worked hard.

He never scored more than 50 points, scoring a best of 39, and after conceding three runs against Scotland and Italy, he scored in single digits in three consecutive games at the T20 World Cup (both of which he was caught as a substitute), but in the match against Sri Lanka he conceded seven runs from 14 balls.

An exhausted Buttler was pinned LBW by a reverse sweep from spin bowler Danis Wellerage at the start of the fourth over, but perhaps most alarming was his effort in the previous over, where he was bowled by seamer Dilshan Madushanka.

Butler was hit with a flatfoot drive on three pitches in a row. He then hit a single to short third and held the strike. After a while he left.

Why is Butler struggling?

Why is England’s all-time great player enduring tough times when it comes to white-ball batting?

Sky Sports’ Michael Atherton said of Butler, who has scored 26 points in five World Cups and averaged 12 points, “No matter how good a player is, you go through phases where the game gets a little bit tight and biting. Jos needs to score.”

“Nasser Hussain says that his head goes slightly to the wrong side of the ball, especially when he’s trying to break through the offside. The bat doesn’t go through the ball cleanly.

“Some cricketers hide their poor form and lack of confidence more than others. Some people puff their chests and bluff a little bit, but not Buttler.

“He has just finished his term as captain, so he has his own bag on his plate and can be a burden. You can’t change who you are and what you are.

“I’m sure Crass will be eliminated eventually, but his opening partnership with Phil Salt is a key part of the game and has yet to be activated, so he must be eliminated soon.

“Otherwise it’s hard to see England going all the way.”

Former England all-rounder Moeen Ali added, “I think Jos is mentally easier.”

“When you’re not doing well in that area, your technique is exposed and you look at things you probably wouldn’t do if you were playing well. He needs to break free and let go, but I’m confident he’ll do well.”

‘Perfect player’ Jacks steps up again for England squad

While Buttler is yet to make headlines in the T20 World Cup, the same cannot be said for spin-bowling all-rounder Will Jacks. He is inspired and is about to be selected in 7th place.

Jacks rescued England with the bat in the nerve-wracking wins over Nepal and Italy with late runs, hitting his maiden T20I fifty against the latter.

He also contributed with the blade against Sri Lanka, with 21 off 14 balls being the second highest after Salt (62 off 40 balls). He then took three wickets in the powerplay to break open the match and disrupted the opposition’s chase with just 147 balls.

Moeen said Jacks, whose all-round skill with bat, ball and field was described by Brook as a “complete player”, was rewarded for bowling slow with all his might, catching and bowling Kusal Mendis as he found grip off the pitch, forcing Pavan Rathnayake to spoon out to cover the leading edge of the next ball. Wellalage’s wicket came later.

Thanks to Jacks, who also hit the deciding hit against Scotland, England continue to win on the right side of close games despite being expected to beat them. In Sri Lanka’s case, they always look like they can win.

He’s just the perfect player. He is a jack of all trades. He’s great on the field and with the bat, and as we saw here, he’s very good with the ball. He got us off to a beautiful start.

Harry Brook talks about Will Jacks

That’s a great trait for the team, but you’ll feel like they need to improve with their bats in order to advance in this tournament and possibly win. Of course, they don’t play in Sri Lanka every week.

Pakistan should be sternly tested in Palekele on Tuesday and New Zealand in Colombo on Friday.

England won’t object if the Jacks cross the line again, but they want the GOAT in Buttler to offer something special.

“Jos hasn’t fired yet. But if he does and gets on a really good wicket, he will score 100 and blitz the team,” Brooke said boldly about his key batsman.

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