Jos Buttler has given his seal of approval to the “incredible talent” of Jamie Smith as he steps into an unexpected role at number three for England’s Champions Trophy match against Australia this Saturday.
In a surprising twist, Smith is taking over the wicketkeeping reins from Phil Salt for England’s first match of the tournament in Lahore. Despite this being his first stint at first drop in ODIs – having never batted higher than number five in his previous 18 international matches – John has impressed many with his dual role as wicketkeeper-batter in Tests, a task he has handled adeptly since making his debut last July.
Buttler is confident in the 24-year-old’s potential, believing Smith will excel in his new position, a bold move orchestrated by head coach Brendon McCullum. Though he has only batted once at number three for Surrey in List A cricket, Buttler sees a promising future for him in this new setup.
“We think it’s a great opportunity for him to make significant contributions at the top,” Buttler expressed during the pre-match press conference. “Jamie has seamlessly adapted to international cricket, and placing him up the order could allow him to have a major impact, backed by a solid lineup behind him. His technical and tactical skills, along with his impressive temperament, mean he’s capable of adapting to any batting position.”
As Salt partners with Ben Duckett at the opening, Smith is given the green light to launch an aggressive attack during the 10-over powerplay, supported by a seasoned middle-order providing a safety net.
Looking at the middle order, we have Joe Root and Harry Brook taking up the number four and five slots, with Buttler himself, comfortable and experienced at number six, and Liam Livingstone filling in at seven.
This strategy aims to address England’s past difficulties against spin, notably highlighted during their recent tour of India. They struggled significantly, losing seven of eight matches, and enduring a 3-0 sweep in the ODI series. The core team now consists of four primary bowling options, with pacemen Jofra Archer and Mark Wood reunited in an ODI after two years, alongside Brydon Carse and leg-spinner Adil Rashid. Meanwhile, Livingstone and Root will share the fifth bowler’s responsibilities.
“We believe in the players we’ve chosen,” Buttler continued. “This lineup is incredibly exciting. Despite past results, the team’s atmosphere is vibrant, and there’s a genuine sense of optimism in the camp.”
The anticipation is high, with Buttler adding, “We are well aware of our immense potential. Our focus is to match our performance to our abilities, and we’re putting in the hard work to get there, knowing that the outcomes will follow.”
For more insights: Jos Buttler is keen on regaining his batting form in the Champions Trophy.
