England’s limited-overs captain, Jos Buttler, has emphasised that international cricket should not clash with the IPL schedule. Defending the England and Wales Cricket Board’s decision to recall players from the IPL 2024 playoffs for a T20I series against Pakistan, Jos Buttler underscored the need for a clear cricket calendar.
Jos Buttler is a powerhouse in the world of T20 cricket. The England cricketer captains his national team in limited-overs formats and brings that leadership experience to the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. Jos Buttler is a right-handed batsman with a reputation for explosive scoring and clean hitting. He’s played over 100 matches, scoring over 3,500 runs in IPL. While 2023 saw him put up a strong 392 runs, it was 2022 where he truly dominated, amassing a whopping 863 runs. He’s also notched 7 IPL centuries and 19 fifties, showcasing his ability to not only hit big but also bat with composure. In his 11 matches played so far in IPL 2024, he has scored 359 runs at an average strike rate of 140.78. There have been glimpses of brilliance, like his century against the Kolkata Knight Riders, but also some quieter performances.
England’s T20 World Cup ambitions are causing a shakeup in the IPL playoffs. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced that their T20 World Cup-bound players will be unavailable for the knockout stages of the IPL, clashing with a pre-tournament series against Pakistan. This decision means several key players will be departing their IPL franchises before the crucial matches. Some of the big names missing out include Jos Buttler (Rajasthan Royals), Moeen Ali (Chennai Super Kings), Jonny Bairstow and Liam Livingstone (Punjab Kings), and Phil Salt (Kolkata Knight Riders), Will Jacks and Reece Topley (Royal Challengers Bengaluru). These players have been instrumental for their respective teams throughout the season, and their absence will be a significant blow.
In Jos Buttler’s Words
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, May 21, Jos Buttler shared his thoughts on the ECB’s decision to recall England’s players from the IPL before the playoffs.
He was quoted by ESPNcricinfo saying, “I said, ‘Look, as an England captain, my main priority is to be playing for England. It’s my personal opinion that there shouldn’t be any international cricket that clashes with the IPL. I think that these games have been in the calendar for a long time.”
“Of course, leading into a World Cup, your No. 1 priority is playing for England and performing for England. I feel like this is the best preparation.”
Jos Buttler’s Excellent Form For The Royals
Jos Buttler shone in the league round for the Rajasthan Royals before returning to England for national duty. In 11 matches, the right-hander amassed 359 runs at an average of 39.89 and a strike rate of 140.78, including two centuries.
The 33-year-old hammered an unbeaten 100 off 58 balls against Royal Challengers Bengaluru Jaipur, smashing nine fours and four sixes. He then delivered a stunning 107* off 50 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders, leading the Rajasthan Royals to chase down 224 on the last ball with two wickets in hand.
Sanjay Bangar On The Issue
On Sunday, Sanjay Bangar, the head of cricket development at Punjab Kings, claimed that the ECB had initially confirmed the availability of all their players. However, he acknowledged that the delayed announcement of the full schedule for IPL 2024 altered the situation.
The dates for England’s T20I series against Pakistan were released in July 2023, while the BCCI announced the complete IPL 2024 schedule after the league had started, awaiting confirmation of India’s general election dates.