England’s T20 World Cup preparations have taken a decisive turn with captain Jos Buttler confirming that he will keep wickets during the tournament. Buttler’s decision prioritizes the strategic advantage of the view from behind the stumps, despite potential risks related to over-rate penalties imposed by the ICC’s new regulations aimed at speeding up play.
The ICC’s stringent rules to accelerate the pace of the game include penalties for slow over-rates, such as an additional fielder inside the 30-yard circle and a countdown clock for over transitions. Teams are now allotted 60 seconds to be ready between overs, with two warnings followed by a five-run penalty for non-compliance. England narrowly escaped penalties during their series against the West Indies, having received two warnings.
Buttler explained his preference for wicketkeeping, citing the tactical insights it provides. “That’s why I like keeping: because I feel like I’ve got the best view. I can see exactly what’s happening and I can make calls,” he told Sky Sports on Wednesday. “I know when Morgs [Eoin Morgan] was captain, he would come to the keeper a lot and want to gather information. I’ve got a lot of that to hand, and then it’s just about making sure I can find those times I can get to the bowler… there’s a lot of benefits to being a keeper as well.”
With Buttler behind the stumps, vice-captain Moeen Ali will play a crucial role in relaying messages to the bowlers. Moeen is trusted by Buttler and is instrumental in making strategic plans clear on the field. “I’ve got feet: I can run down there and talk to them,” Moeen mentioned, addressing concerns about maintaining the game’s pace. “It’s a real big myth sometimes… there’s different ways I can slow the game down.”
As Buttler’s wife Louise is heavily pregnant, he has planned to attend the birth, which may cause him to miss a World Cup match. “If it happens, then it’s a great honour – as it always is,” Buttler stated. “I’ll be fine: nothing will change too much. It’s just taking over from what he’s doing, and then when he comes back, he takes over. Hopefully, the baby comes at the right time where he doesn’t miss too many games. We speak often, me and Jos… we’re on the same page anyway.”
In Buttler’s potential absence, Moeen Ali is prepared to step in as captain. Confident in his ability to lead the team, Moeen emphasized that this would not significantly impact their World Cup campaign.
With three matches remaining before their opener against Scotland on June 4, England’s World Cup preparation is in full swing. Moeen Ali stressed the importance of finalizing the team’s strategic approach. “It’s about the style of cricket we want to try and play… are we positive? Are we trying to be a bit cautious? Are we going to adapt? And then we just pick, and once we decide on what we want as a group, then we fully, 100 percent, commit to that, whether that is bat, ball or in the field,” he said.
Reflecting on their confidence heading into the T20 World Cup compared to last year’s ODI version, Moeen attributed it to the team being more settled and experienced in T20 cricket. “That is what clarity is for us.”
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