Wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler heaped praise on Eoin Morgan, labeling England captain as a “pioneer for English white-ball cricket” while saying the latter has taken their white-ball cricket to a “different level it's never been before” with his incredible leadership.
Morgan, who led England to maiden ODI World Cup title in 2019, became the first England player and fourth overall to make 100 appearances in T20 cricket when he took the field in the third T20I against India in Ahmedabad on Tuesday (March 16).
He celebrated his 100th T20 international cap with an 8-wicket victory over the hosts to take a 2-1 lead in the ongoing T20I series.
Buttler was the star for England in the third T20I, as the Vice-captain returned with the man of the match performance, hitting his T20I best 83* from 52 balls after Mark Wood’s heroics with the ball 3/31 to guide the touring side to a comfortable eight-wicket win over Team India.
Hailing Morgan both a leader and player, the Englishman has credited the current captain along with Kevin Pietersen for taking England’s white-ball cricket to a different level.
Buttler told reporters: “He's been a pioneer for English white-ball cricketers, he's always been someone who has been ahead of the curve, I'd say alongside Kevin Pietersen. They were two guys I always looked to in white-balls teams who could do it a bit differently, take the game forward, and be ahead of the curve. So, he was a pioneer as a player to start with and certainly as a captain and a leader.”
He continued, “He's taken English white-ball cricket to a place it's never been before and I think he's done that in quite an incredible way. I know how much everyone enjoys playing for him and the environment that he's created.
The group we have at the moment is as much fun to play in as ever and it's a really good team. He's been a huge driver of that, alongside a few others. He's a selfless guy but I was trying to remind him that today really was about him and it's no mean feat to achieve 100 caps.”
Meanwhile, the 30-year-old further said he has got full backing from Morgan to play as an opener for England in T20I cricket after being promoted to the top order in 2018.
He further noted, “Now I've got the full backing from Morgs (Eoin Morgan) to go and do that, and that gives me a lot of confidence. And I think, really enjoyed the role today as I always do.”
The right-hander continued, “Yeah, it's (opening) my preference in T20 cricket. But I'll always be open-minded, I'm sure certain teams may ask me to bat somewhere else but I know Morgs is keen for me to open in this team and do that with his backing.”
On being asked whether his knock in the third T20I against India has ended the debate over his opening position, the wicketkeeper-batsman said: “I think people seem to quite enjoy talking about it. And yeah, I certainly sometimes feel the pressure of that.”
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Buttler further explained, “Every time I do, I have the opportunity to try and make a case because you know there's obviously loads of us who can open the batting for this team."
Eoin is always clear with every single player on what he expects of them, and how much he backs people to do that job. At the moment he wants me to open and backs me 100 percent. So that gives me a lot of confidence. You're not out till the end and to see a side home is a fantastic feeling.”
He has struggled to score freely against Yuzvendra Chahal in the IPL but things were different in the third game as he played in a counter-attacking mode, hitting four sixes and five boundaries on Tuesday.
Buttler signed off by saying, “I felt it was a great opportunity to try and attack him. The ball had swung a little bit for the seamers and was standing up so I felt like spin was going to be the best time to attack in the Powerplay.”
(With PTI Inputs)
