England’s cricket team captain Jos Buttler has publicly expressed his growing frustration with his inability to score runs in One Day Internationals (ODIs). It has been a disheartening period for the accomplished batsman, as he has failed to reach a half-century in his last 13 innings dating back to September 2023. His recent performances have been particularly worrying, with an average of just 9.75 in his last eight innings. This lean streak has persisted through the World Cup in India and was evident in the latest ODI against the West Indies on Sunday, December 3, where he scored a mere three runs from 13 balls.
The first ODI saw England posting a respectable total of 325 runs in their 50 overs, yet Buttler’s contribution was minimal. Post-match, the England captain was forthcoming about his form, or lack thereof, in the 50-over format. While Buttler acknowledged his disappointment, he remained optimistic, suggesting that despite his current difficulties at the crease, he is confident that a return to form is on the horizon. Buttler underlined his commitment to hard work and determination to regain his scoring touch.
“I feel good, I just keep managing to get out. It’s disappointing, frustrating and has gone on for a lot longer than I’d have liked, but there’s only myself who can score my runs,” Buttler remarked. He emphasized the importance of perseverance and the need to continue putting in the effort: “You keep working hard, keep putting yourself out there, trusting in the stuff that’s served you well over a long period of time and hope it turns around.”
As the match unfolded, England looked secure for the majority of the game, with the West Indies facing a challenging target of 80 runs off the last seven overs. Heroics from Romario Shepherd and West Indies captain Shai Hope turned the tide, enabling the Caribbean team to overhaul the target with four wickets in hand and seven balls to spare. Buttler praised the efforts of his team that positioned them well for most of the encounter, attributing the West Indies’ victory to their ability to clear the ropes when it mattered most.
“For 40 overs of it, we did brilliantly well. It is always a hallmark of West Indian cricket that they are excellent six hitters and they managed to find the rope when they needed to,” he said. “We did a lot of things well with the bat and ball, we just didn’t close it out. A little bit of execution here and there or whether we need to change our plans a little bit,” Buttler reflected.
Elsewhere in cricket, during the first ODI between West Indies and England, Sam Curran’s decision to wear sunglasses while batting sparked a series of humorous reactions on social media. Meanwhile, Punjab Kings took a playful dig at Shaheen Afridi when Matthew Wade was dismissed, which led to a comical exchange online. England’s coach Brendon McCullum, facing an upcoming series against India, admitted that this would be the true test of their aggressive ‘Bazball’ approach facing one of the best teams in the world.
The pressure will undoubtedly be on Jos Buttler to reverse his fortunes and prove his mettle as the captain of England. With cricket being a game of ebb and flow, it’s only a matter of time before the tides turn, and Buttler finds his way back to the prolific scoring form that the cricketing world knows he is capable of. England’s team and their fans will be hoping that this change comes soon, as the team looks to rebuild and compose a dominant side capable of triumphing in future ODI challenges.