For Justin Langer, Jos Buttler is the new MS Dhoni of world cricket

After India-Pakistan on June 16, the ICC World Cup 2019 is set to witness another major game on Tuesday and it involves another set of rivals – hosts England and holders Australia. The high-voltage clash at Lord’s will also be special since it will feature David Warner and Steve Smith, the two cricketers who have been facing constant booing ever since they set their foot on the English soil.

Australia coach Justin Langer, however, is seeing things more from the cricketing perspective than emotion. The former opener believes England are still the team to beat in the tournament even though they have already slumped to two close losses in this tournament – against Pakistan by 14 runs and Sri Lanka by 20 runs.

While Australia are at the top of the points table now with five wins out of six games, two losses have put Eoin Morgan’s side in a spot. The hosts are at the fourth position now with eight points but most importantly, all their remaining matches are against sides that are above them in the points table – Australia, India and New Zealand. England failed to make 233 against Sri Lanka, a side which has been far from satisfactory in this tournament but got their acts together to pick their fourth consecutive win against the Three Lions at the showpiece event.

Langer, 48, called England the best team in the world and refused to acknowledge that anything has changed in their ranks in the last one week or so. He also said that Morgan’s side deserved their place at the top of the ODI rankings for having made all the hard work to climb up from the ruins they found themselves in the 2015 edition.

“They are the best team in the world. Just look at their team… nothing has changed in a week,” News18 cited agencies quoting Langer as saying on Sunday. England are the top-ranked team in ODIs at the moment while Australia are at N0.5. The Kangaroos, however, are in the hunt for their sixth world title while England are yet to win their first.

“I can’t wait for Tuesday — England at Lord’s, World Cup. That is what we are thinking about,” Langer said.

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Langer speaks highly of Buttler

The Australian coach made a special mention of Jos Buttler, the dashing England wicketkeeper-batsman, who he met during his stint with Somerset earlier. One of the most prolific hitters of the ball, Buttler was even nominated by Langer as the natural successor to India’s Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

“Jos is an unbelievable player. I love watching him bat. He is the new Dhoni of world cricket,” the Australian said, adding that he hoped Buttler ended up getting a duck in Tuesday’s game.

Buttler, who had an injury scare in this tournament, scored a century against Pakistan and a fifty versus Bangladesh but hasn’t got runs in the last two matches against Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.