I just tried to soak the pressure and imagined what MS Dhoni would do: Jos Buttler

Jos Buttler last night proved just why he is widely termed as the best wicketkeeper-batsman in white-ball cricket. His power-hitting abilities have been widely recognized but it is the consistency with which one manages to do it and on what occasions that determines the stature of the player. Buttler had in the past played some unbelievable knocks but the one he produced against Australia in the 5th ODI beats them all.

England were 4 down for 50 chasing 208 and lost 8 with 114 runs on the board. Buttler now didn’t just have to think about scoring the runs but also making sure his No.10 and 11 partners don’t attempt to play an extravagant shot. They had the luxury of a moderate asking rate, however, the vice-captain of the English team had to soak in all the pressure.

Imagined what MS Dhoni would’ve done

After the conclusion of the game Buttler while talking to an ECB reporter mentioned that he tried to think what Indian great and arguably the best finisher in modern-day cricket MS Dhoni would’ve done in that situation and just replicated that.

“I think I was (on being calm) when you are out there, there is something you can do about it is probably harder sitting on the balcony. I just tried to soak up the pressure and probably imagining what MS Dhoni would do, look unflustered and look calm and try to panic last, so that’s what I was trying to do,” Buttler said.

Rashid’s contribution

He did that exceedingly well and stitched together a crucial 81-run partnership with Rashid who only got out in the fag end of the chase. The leg-spinner faced 47 balls and scored 20 runs, Buttler’s contribution in the stand was 51. He got to his 6th ODI hundred in the process but didn’t really celebrate as the job was not done yet.

England still needed 13 runs with Jake Ball at the crease and he didn’t lose his composure either. In the end, Buttler scored the winning runs and jumped in the air as his team managed to whitewash the Aussies 5-0 in the ODI series.

“I knew if we batted 50 overs we would be there, was just trying to find partnerships. Myself and Adil we worked together really well, worked our way through it in different stages what bowlers were coming in with what plans. All credit to Adil for being there and putting in that partnership. The length of our batting lineup is a huge strength and we needed it today,” Jost Buttler said about his partnership with Rashid which helped him sail the team home.

He had a tremendous series overall with three unbeaten fifty-plus scores (91*, 54* and 110*), he converted the last into a magnificent hundred and ended the series with 275 runs.

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