Jos Buttler motivated by poor World Cup to drive England forward

Jos Buttler intends to use England’s World Cup misery to fuel him for the rest of his career but he insisted the humbling campaign “doesn’t define me as a person or my whole career”.

England’s defence of the title they won to much acclaim in 2019 was a debacle, with Buttler not making a single fifty and averaging 15.33 in nine group-stage matches as his form completely deserted him.

Three weeks on from their final game of a grizzly trip to India, Buttler is on the road again and looking to wipe the slate clean as he leads a new-look England side on a white-ball tour of the West Indies, starting with the first of three ODIs on Sunday in Antigua.

Having taken a few painful lessons from the past few weeks, Buttler is adamant he is as committed as ever to get England back to being the standard-bearers in the limited-overs formats going forwards.

“I’ve got to use it as motivation and hunger to push myself and the team forward,” the England white-ball captain said. “Use it as a positive experience to go into the rest of my career.

“I still feel incredibly motivated and excited and it’s nice to be around some of the younger guys who are desperate to do well and, as a more senior player, it gives you a lot of energy.

“We have had one bad tournament. We have been in a great place for a long time and you see the depth of talent of guys coming through and you want to help shape that period of white-ball cricket.

“Any time that you get challenged and get pushed back, it certainly lights a few fires and motivates you. I should be in an even better place moving forward than I have been.”

Buttler and head coach Matthew Mott inevitably drew plenty of criticism for finishing seventh out of 10 teams in the subcontinent but the pair have been backed fully by director of men’s cricket Rob Key.

Having had time to digest what happened, Buttler retains a pragmatic outlook and reminds himself of team-mate Ben Stokes’ now memorable line to Jofra Archer before the pivotal super over in the 2019 World Cup final.

“Having good people around you, people who are close to you, that keeps some perspective on life and on cricket,” the double World Cup winner said. “It’s meant to be hard at times, right?

“We’re playing international cricket events against the best players in the world and they’ve all got the same ambitions as we have so there’s going to be times when it’s not easy.

“It’s this easy to be captain hindsight. Say you got XYZ wrong, when if you don’t play well enough to try and implement your plan, the decisions can maybe become a little bit irrelevant.

“I always think of Ben Stokes’ words to Jofra about the super over: whatever happens here doesn’t define you and I certainly don’t feel like that World Cup is the defining moment for me.

“It’s a huge disappointment but it doesn’t define me as a person or my whole career. So, just use it as something to make sure I look forward now and enjoy the challenges ahead.

“Life moves on, the world moves on pretty fast. There’s always something to look forward to. It’s never as bad as you think it is and it’s never as good as you think it is.”

Buttler did not reveal his XI for what is being dubbed by some as a reset as they build towards the 2025 Champions Trophy and 2027 World Cup but Will Jacks and Phil Salt are set to open the batting.

Neither player received a central contract a few weeks ago but they have an opportunity to push their case for more regular involvement alongside the likes of Rehan Ahmed, John Turner and Matthew Potts.

Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse have followed Buttler to the Caribbean from the World Cup, while a 15-strong squad is bolstered by Test regulars Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope.

“It’s certainly a bit of a new beginning,” Buttler added. “There’s some really exciting talent in this team. There’s a nice blend, I think.”

“There’s some great energy around the guys and the Caribbean is a nice place to start this journey.”

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Mitchell Marsh: ‘No disrespect meant’ in photo of feet on World Cup trophy

Mitchell Marsh has defended the controversial photo of him putting his feet on the World Cup trophy during Australia’s post-tournament celebrations.

Marsh broke his silence after being accused of disrespecting the game while posing for a photo after Australia’s sixth World Cup victory with the trophy under his feet.

The all-rounder was instrumental in Australia’s successful campaign, racking up the third-highest runs (441) for his side, at an average of 49 and a strike rate of 107.56. However, the gesture didn’t sit well with some Indian fans.

Indian speedster Mohammed Shami was among those to voiced his disapproval of the celebration.

“I am hurt,” he said, speaking to a group of reporters on Friday, November 24. “The trophy for which all the teams in the world fight, the trophy which you want to lift over your head, keeping a foot on that trophy did not make me happy.”

While speaking to Sen Radio, Marsh insisted he meant no disrespect to the silverware: “There was obviously no disrespect meant in that photo at all.

“I haven’t given it too much thought, I haven’t seen a lot on social media even though everyone tells me it’s gone off. There’s nothing in that.”

When asked about whether he would repeat his act, Marsh replied in the affirmative. “Yeah, probably, to be honest”.

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Salman Butt, captain in spot-fixing scandal, appointed to Pakistan selection committee

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has named former captain Salman Butt, infamous for his role in the 2010 spot-fixing scandal, as one of the consultants in the national selection panel, along with former international teammates Kamran Akmal and Iftikhar Anjum.

The trio’s maiden assignment as consultants to the newly appointed chief selector Wahab Riaz begins when Pakistan play New Zealand in a five-match T20I series after the Australia tour.

While Akmal, who held the chair of the Junior Selection Committee in early 2023, and Ajnum, who was a part of the selection committee headed by interim chief selector Shahid Afirdi last year, have had experience being members of the selection panel, Butt’s appointment will raise some eyebrows.

The appointment marks the return of Butt to an official PCB role for the first time since serving a ban due to his involvement in the 2010 spot-fixing scandal. Butt, Pakistan captain at the time, was the mastermind of the operation, with Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif deliberately bowling front-foot no-balls in the Lord’s Test against England. All three served lengthy bans and jail time after the incident. While Amir, 18 years old at the time of the incident, returned to play international cricket, neither Asif not Butt played for Pakistan again, though both featured in domestic cricket.

Butt represented Pakistan in 53 Tests, 157 ODIs and 58 T20Is.

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Five bad weeks do not define a team – England’s Ben Duckett

Ben Duckett cast doubt on England overhauling their white-ball approach despite a wretched World Cup which he insisted “does not define a team”.

Duckett watched from home as England’s defence of the crown they won amid much fanfare in 2019 went badly awry, losing six of their first seven fixtures before claiming a couple of consolation wins.

England’s misery has led to speculation of a reset going forward and only half a dozen of the contingent from India are out in the Caribbean for an ODI series starting on Sunday in Antigua.

Ben Duckett is looking to make the most of his England chance (Bradley Collyer/PA)

Duckett is one of the beneficiaries of a number of more established stars being rested but he was adamant that England do not need to make adjustments to a blueprint that served them so well for many years.

“We have watched how England have played cricket over the past eight years and one bad five weeks does not define a team,” Duckett said. “It’s probably been the greatest white-ball team ever.

“If we can go and play how they have played over the past eight years or even half as good that will be an achievement. We know how they want to play their cricket.

“I don’t think the approach is going to change because of how the World Cup went. I think the age is probably the factor. If they win that World Cup, the same group of players might be here.

“It was potentially guys who were late 30s and coming towards the end of their 50-over careers. So it seemed like there was always going to be a fresh start after it.”

Rehan Ahmed is another player hoping to make the most of his inclusion (Mike Egerton/PA)

Captain Jos Buttler, batter Harry Brook, all-rounders Liam Livingstone and Sam Curran and fast bowlers Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse are the England players out in the West Indies who were at the World Cup.

Players on the fringes such as teenage leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed, big-hitting all-rounder Will Jacks and uncapped fast bowler John Turner now have an opportunity in these three matches over the next 10 days.

Duckett rejected the notion there was any additional burdens on this group after recent events, even if the left-handed batter admitted his desperation to shine to stay in England’s limited-overs plans.

“Not in the slightest,” he said. “We don’t feel pressure, you know? I think fresh is a good word. A group of players who can go and showcase what we can do.

“But I think for each and every one of us it’s important to perform. I need to go and prove that I’m good enough to be on this team and so do the other guys.”

What a way to reach your 100 👏@BenDuckett1 does it in style!@IGcom | #EnglandCricket pic.twitter.com/8EbfizkXOx

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) September 26, 2023

Duckett has cemented himself into England’s Test team as an opener but even though he is renowned for his attack-minded mentality, he has been capped in just eight ODIs and 11 T20s in seven years.

In his most recent international appearance, Duckett registered an unbeaten hundred against Ireland in September as part of a second-string England side, with the big guns rested ahead of the World Cup.

At 29, he could be entering his peak and a mainstay in all three formats but Duckett, who is expected to bat in the middle-order this weekend, is refusing to taking anything for granted.

“I’m genuinely thinking about the next three weeks,” he added. “I know how difficult it is to stay in a side when there’s this many players.

“I think the biggest thing I’ve learned over the last 12 to 15 months is not thinking too far ahead.

“I’ve got to go and score runs this series to get to the next one, there’s people banging down the door who aren’t here so, I don’t think I’m a shoo-in for the next four years. I’d be silly to think that.”

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India have named three squads for their upcoming all-format tour of South Africa. Here are the main talking points from the white-ball portion of the announcement.

While India’s Test squad is full-strength from those available, the white-ball groups are not. The ODI squad is noticeably second-string, with the next World Cup four years away, and even with a T20 World Cup fast approaching, there are key absentees from that group as well.

According to the BCCI, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have asked for rest from the white-ball leg of the tour. Had the BCCI not made that clear, speculation over their futures would have reached fever pitch, but their continued absence in T20I cricket remains a point of debate. Rohit, officially, is still the all-format captain. Kohli is India’s greatest all-format star. Both will end 2023 without a T20I appearance.

There are questions over the suitability of each of them in the format, with Kohli’s anchor role and struggles against spin in the middle overs under scrutiny, and Rohit having never cracked the Indian Premier League, even while his international record is formidable. India’s strength in depth is formidable. It remains to be seen if they have been quietly moved aside, or if they will slot back in when the main event rolls around.

Beyond them, there are players absent who will undoubtedly be first choice in the USA and the Caribbean. Jasprit Bumrah, for example, who India are right to use sparingly. Still, the lack of a press conference or release makes it hard to work out who has been rested, and who has been left out. KL Rahul, in both of the other two squads, is a noted absence. Ravindra Jadeja, Ravi Bishnoi and Jitesh Sharma are in the T20I squad but not in the ODI squad. For Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal and Sanju Samson, the opposite is true.

Given India’s obscene resources, it makes sense to give a go to as many players as possible. But some decisions still raise an eyebrow. For example, it is odd that Yashasvi Jaiswal can have the start he has had in Tests and T20Is but not yet find a space in the middle format.

South Africa v India

South Africa v India 2023/24

What can be learned from India's white-ball squads to tour South Africa?

South Africa v India 2023/24

Rahul’s roles and the end for Rahane? Five talking points from India’s Test squad for South Africa

South Africa v India 2023/24

India announce Test, ODI and T20I squads for South Africa tour

South Africa v India 2023/24

India tour of South Africa 2023/24 schedule: Full fixtures list, match dates and venues for SA vs IND Test, ODI & T20I series

Some of this can be explained by India’s squeezed tour schedule, with a three-day intra-squad Test warm-up running alongside the ODIs. There is still some overlap between the squads, and it is not just the fringe Test players who have been made available in ODIs, since at least one of Shreyas Iyer and Rahul is all but certain to start the series.

Amongst all this sifting of hierarchy, the individual stories shouldn’t be missed. There’s Chahal, left out in ODIs since January, playing in the County Championship as his flame faded but winning a recall now. There’s Samson, an IPL phenom, who has been given a game here and there in T20Is but failed to catch light, and who is now persistently overlooked. There’s Rinku Singh, the archetypal T20I finisher, now given a chance in the longer white-ball format.

India are always playing cricket somewhere, but these games should matter. For the ODIs, it’s a chance to get experience in the venue for the next World Cup. For the T20Is, that time until the next World Cup will quickly disappear. There’s plenty for India to learn, and plenty to be learned about their thinking already.

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Rahul’s roles and the end for Rahane? Five talking points from India’s Test squad for South Africa

India named their squads for all three formats for their upcoming tour of South Africa. Here are the takeaways from the Test squad.

After three T20Is and three ODIs, India will play two Test matches on the South Africa tour – at Centurion from December 26, and at Cape Town from January 3.

On November 30, the selectors announced the squads for all three series, featuring – and omitting – some major names. Here are the key talking points from the Test squad.

India’s Test squad in South Africa: Rohit Sharma (c), Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Ishan Kishan (wk), KL Rahul (wk), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ruturaj Gaikwad, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Shami (subject to fitness).

End of the road for Rahane?

The selectors had left Cheteshwar Pujara out of the Test squad for the West Indies tour earlier this year. However, Ajinkya Rahane’s 89 and 46 on comeback in the 2021-23 World Test Championship final had earned him a spot. They even appointed him vice-captain, though that was obviously a stopgap arrangement.

With a fit Shreyas Iyer back to take over the No.4 position and enough backup around, the selectors decided to move on from Rahane, who had failed in his two outings in the Caribbean.

… and the same for Umesh?

Maybe not, for Umesh is an unusual fast bowler. Of Indian fast bowlers with a hundred Test wickets on home soil, he has the best average (25.88) and strike rate (48). Outside India, the numbers read 38.39 and 60. He may play at home in the long series against England, but at 36, he may not tour again in Test whites.

Naming Bumrah vice-captain

Bumrah had led India in the Edgbaston Test match of 2022, and recently, in the T20Is on the Ireland tour when he returned from an 11-month injury hiatus. It is unlikely someone as injury-prone as him will be looked upon as Rohit’s long-term successor.

However, by naming him Rohit’s deputy, the selectors made it clear that KL Rahul – who had started the Test series against Australia earlier this year as vice-captain – is not a certainty in the starting XI.

The roles Rahul may fill

Quite a few, actually. He is a specialist opener, so he may fill in if one of Rohit or Yashasvi Jaiswal is injured. If the team management wants Shubman Gill to go up from one-drop to replace an opener, Rahul can take Gill’s place. Or perhaps replace Iyer at five.

Rahul has started only one first-class match as designated wicketkeeper – an emergency for the touring Indians against the County Select XI in 2021 – but barring first-choice gloveman Ishan Kishan, he is the only one in the squad with keeping experience. To be fair, during the World Cup, he demonstrated that his glovework has improved significantly.

Prasidh’s selection

India lost both their last two Test series in South Africa by 1-2 margins. After the 2018/19 tour, Mike Haysman had explained how the South African fast bowlers had exploited their extra height on the surfaces.

Rahul Dravid, a couple of months into the role of India’s head coach, observed the same during the 2021/22 tour: “It just felt like the ball seemed to misbehave a little bit more for them … On up-and-down wickets sometimes just having that extra height might tend to make a little bit of a difference, so it just felt for us the balls didn’t misbehave as much.

“Some did, of course. There were some balls that did misbehave even for us, but probably not as many as it did for them. I guess they have that natural height advantage. We are bowlers who tend to pitch the ball up a little bit more, we look for swing, we kiss the surface a little bit more.”

At 188 cm, Prasidh is the tallest of the Indian fast bowlers in the squad. He has played only 11 first-class matches – none of them since March 2022 – but his 49 wickets in the format have come at 17.61 apiece.

Just like Bumrah from six seasons ago, Prasidh, too, may debut in South Africa, especially if Shami, whose availability is subject to fitness, does not recover in time.

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Uganda seal T20 World Cup qualification, Zimbabwe eliminated

Uganda beat Rwanda with nine wickets and 71 balls in hand to qualify for the T20 World Cup for the first time.

Uganda finished second in the 2022/23 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier to become the 20th, and final, team to qualify for the 2024 T20 World Cup, to be hosted by the West Indies and the USA.

‘The Cranes’ came into their last league match, at the Wanderers Cricket Ground in Windhoek, with a 16-0 record against Rwanda – the most one-sided record by any side against a single opposition in men’s T20Is.

To qualify for the T20 World Cup, they needed one point, having beaten Full Member Zimbabwe earlier in the competition – in other words, even a washed-out match would have seen them through.

Uganda shot out Rwanda for 65 in 18.5 overs after their captain Brian Masaba opted to bowl. Alpesh Ramjani returned incredible figures of 3-2-1-2, while Masaba (2-10), Henry Ssenyondo (2-10), Dinesh Nakrani (2-16), and Riazat Ali Shah (1-5) shared the other wickets.

For Rwanda, Eric Dusingizimana (19 in 22 balls) and Muhammad Nadir (11 in 24) were the only ones to reach double figures. The entire innings featured three fours and a six.

Uganda barely broke a sweat during their chase. Ronak Patel fell for a 20-ball 18, but Simon Ssenazi (26 not out in 21 balls) and Roger Mukasa (13 not out in 8) saw them home in 8.1 overs.

Uganda had qualified for the Africa Qualifier by virtue of making it to the Global Qualifier of 2022. They were joined by hosts Namibia and Zimbabwe, both of whom had played in the 2022 T20 World Cup, and Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Tanzania, all of whom qualified from this year’s African sub-regional qualifiers.

They began the Qualifier with an eight-wicket win against Tanzania before going down to Namibia by six wickets. Then, in their first ever full international match against an ICC Full Member side, they restricted Zimbabwe to 136-7 and chased down the target with five wickets and five balls in hand.

A nine-wicket win against Nigeria followed. In the all-important penultimate clash, they posted 162-5 and bowled out Kenya for 129, as good as sealing a T20 World Cup berth.

Amidst all this, Namibia had became the first of two teams from the group to qualify for the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Zimbabwe and Kenya, the other teams in the race, were on six points – two behind Uganda – when they began their respective last matches, against each other. A point, thus, guaranteed Uganda a spot: they secured two points to qualify.

This will be Uganda’s first appearance at a World Cup, though Sam Walusimbi and John Nagenda, both Ugandans, played in the 1975 World Cup when the country used to compete as part of the East Africa side.

ICC T20 World Cup 2024 teams

Hosts – West Indies, USA. From T20 World Cup 2022 – England, Pakistan, India, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Netherlands. Via T20I team rankings – Afghanistan, Bangladesh. Qualifiers – Ireland, Scotland (Europe); Papua New Guinea (East Asia-Pacific); Canada (Americas); Nepal, Oman (Asia); Namibia, Uganda (Africa).

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