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England’s Jos Buttler strikes it lucky and the runs start to flow England’s Jos Buttler strikes it lucky and the runs start to flow
(about 2 hours later)
A bit of luck helps. Or as John Paul Getty once suggested the secret of success is to “rise early, work hard and strike oil”. English batsmen, with the exception of Gary Ballance, have had a bit of luck and some have struck oil.A bit of luck helps. Or as John Paul Getty once suggested the secret of success is to “rise early, work hard and strike oil”. English batsmen, with the exception of Gary Ballance, have had a bit of luck and some have struck oil.
In this match Alastair Cook was dropped on 15, the sort of catch that Ravindra Jadeja would take nine times out of 10.In this match Alastair Cook was dropped on 15, the sort of catch that Ravindra Jadeja would take nine times out of 10.
Ian Bell, if the DRS had been in operation, would have been lbw for a duck and Jos Buttler may have been caught by Ajinkya Rahane at second slip before he had scored. The third umpire spied some doubt and Buttler survived. Ian Bell, if the DRS had been in operation, would have been lbw for a duck and Jos Buttler may have been caught by Ajinkya Rahane at second slip before he had scored. The third umpire saw some doubt and Buttler survived.
All three English batsmen were under the pump. The world and his wife (especially his wife, for Cook sometimes has that effect) knew about the captain’s predicament, which was a handy boon for Bell. His lean trot has been conveniently obscured by Cook’s travails. As for Buttler, he was in the first-chance saloon, which can be an uncomfortable place. How a career starts can make a huge difference.All three English batsmen were under the pump. The world and his wife (especially his wife, for Cook sometimes has that effect) knew about the captain’s predicament, which was a handy boon for Bell. His lean trot has been conveniently obscured by Cook’s travails. As for Buttler, he was in the first-chance saloon, which can be an uncomfortable place. How a career starts can make a huge difference.
Buttler can be a bit dozy. Recall the run-out backing up in the Edgbaston ODI when he omitted to take heed of the warning offered by the Sri Lankans. Here, on the ground where he scored his maiden first-class century and one which he seriously considered making his home before plumping for Old Trafford, he looked a little tentative as he made his first entry as a Test cricketer. Buttler can be a bit dozy. Recall the run-out backing up in the Edgbaston ODI when he omitted to take heed of the warning offered by the Sri Lankans. Here, on the ground where he scored his maiden first-class century and one which he seriously considered making his home before plumping for Old Trafford, he looked a little tentative as he made his entry as a Test cricketer.
He carefully let his first few deliveries from Bhuvneshwar Kumar go by; he blocked a ball from Jadeja. He prodded at another from Kumar and the edge sped towards second slip.He carefully let his first few deliveries from Bhuvneshwar Kumar go by; he blocked a ball from Jadeja. He prodded at another from Kumar and the edge sped towards second slip.
Buttler gave a glance at Rahane and took half a step towards the pavilion as if acknowledging a clean catch. Then looking a little like a lost schoolboy he faltered. Umpire Erasmus suggested that he should wait; no doubt Bell was about to say the same. With every replay the doubts redoubled and Buttler survived. Buttler gave a glance at Rahane and took half a step towards the pavilion as if acknowledging a clean catch. Then, looking a little like a lost schoolboy, he faltered. Umpire Erasmus suggested he should wait; no doubt Bell was about to say the same. With every replay the doubts redoubled and Buttler survived.
As if stung by his own hesitancy Buttler pumped his next ball through the covers for his first runs in Test cricket. Soon he cracked a delivery from Jadeja over mid-off. And so he was on his way. There would be more lucky breaks. Shikhar Dhawan spilled a tricky chance at first slip when he was on 23.As if stung by his own hesitancy Buttler pumped his next ball through the covers for his first runs in Test cricket. Soon he cracked a delivery from Jadeja over mid-off. And so he was on his way. There would be more lucky breaks. Shikhar Dhawan spilled a tricky chance at first slip when he was on 23.
Later, on 59, an easier stumping chance was spurned by by MS Dhoni. By now the oil was gushing out.Later, on 59, an easier stumping chance was spurned by by MS Dhoni. By now the oil was gushing out.
Buttler had been lucky with these escapes as well as the state of play upon his arrival at the crease. He found himself in a situation which demanded that he should bat with freedom. And so he did; there were reverse sweeps, lofted straight drives, inside-out drives and a couple effortless swings which sent the ball sailing over midwicket from the bowling of Pankaj Singh, whose first Test match experience has not been so fortuitous. This was not like batting for Lancashire; the pitch at the Ageas Bowl was somewhat flatter than the one he had encountered recently at Aigburth, Liverpool. Buttler had been lucky with these escapes as well as the state of play upon his arrival at the crease. He found himself in a situation which demanded that he should bat with freedom. And so he did; there were reverse sweeps, lofted straight drives, inside-out drives and a couple of effortless swings which sent the ball sailing over midwicket from the bowling of Pankaj Singh, whose first Test match experience has not been so fortuitous. This was not like batting for Lancashire; the pitch at the Ageas Bowl was somewhat flatter than the one he had encountered recently at Aigburth, Liverpool.
In fact despite moving north primarily to gain more wicket-keeping experience the outcome has been that Buttler has had countless opportunities with the bat as well, usually commencing his innings before his side has reached three figures. He has often had to battle in adversity for his new club, a valuable way in which to advance his batsmanship in the longer game.In fact despite moving north primarily to gain more wicket-keeping experience the outcome has been that Buttler has had countless opportunities with the bat as well, usually commencing his innings before his side has reached three figures. He has often had to battle in adversity for his new club, a valuable way in which to advance his batsmanship in the longer game.
But here, albeit in white kit and against red ball, he could soon revert to one-day mode. And it was exciting.But here, albeit in white kit and against red ball, he could soon revert to one-day mode. And it was exciting.
He might have snatched a century but, like Cook before him, he would have settled for his score before taking guard. We have been given a glimpse of what could be a thrilling future. He might have snatched a century but, like Cook before him, he would have settled for his score before taking guard. This was a glimpse of what could be a thrilling future.
But it will get much trickier than this down the line. But it will get much trickier down the line. For the second day in succession the centurion was overshadowed by an innings of lesser quantity. Buttler is a new and exciting prospect. Bell is rather more familiar, though spectators never tire of an exquisite cover drive here, a late cut there, a lofted drive, which is never brutal, that ends in the stands. Even so Bell stressed before the match that now his priority is “how many” rather than “how”. He also needed some luck to end his run drought.
For the second day in succession we had witnessed an innings that overshadowed the centurions. Buttler is a new and exciting prospect. Bell is rather more familiar though spectators never tire of an exquisite cover drive here, a late cut there, a lofted drive, which is never brutal, that ends in the stands. Even so Bell stressed before the match that now his priority is “how many” rather than “how”. He also needed some luck to end his run drought.
But Ballance did not have much luck. Indeed, despite hitting a career-best 156, he could consider himself unfortunate. His bat was approximately three inches from the off-break from Rohit Sharma, whereupon he remained impressively phlegmatic when Dhoni’s appeal was upheld.But Ballance did not have much luck. Indeed, despite hitting a career-best 156, he could consider himself unfortunate. His bat was approximately three inches from the off-break from Rohit Sharma, whereupon he remained impressively phlegmatic when Dhoni’s appeal was upheld.
Ballance is also pretty new but already it seems as if he has been around for ages – 156 is a lot of runs for a man playing his sixth Test and yet his progress was almost taken for granted. Once again he was robbed of the headlines but that is unlikely to disturb him.Ballance is also pretty new but already it seems as if he has been around for ages – 156 is a lot of runs for a man playing his sixth Test and yet his progress was almost taken for granted. Once again he was robbed of the headlines but that is unlikely to disturb him.