England T20I captain Jos Buttler backs his teammate Jonny Bairstow to come good in his new role as defending champions readies for the title defence in the Americas. With Phil Salt slated to open and Will Jacks to bat one down at number three, Bairstow will play at number four in the middle order, which he calls as ‘promotion.’ Speaking at a media event on Saturday (June 1), Buttler backed the right-hander to use his experience and deliver for his team.
England, placed in Group B, alongside old foes Australia, Scotland, Oman and Namibia, will play Scotland in their tournament opener on June 4 (Tuesday) in Barbados.
Speaking on Bairstow’s new role in this campaign, Buttler said Jonny had done this before, and given what he brings to the table with his attacking stroke play, Bairstow will be their best bet at that position.
“I think for every player in the team, it’s about trying to read the situation of the game and play accordingly,” Buttler said at a presser.
“I think Jonny’s got the experience and the game to play that role for us at No. 4.”
“It’s something he’s done quite a bit in the T20 side previously as well, and he’s got great variety in his game. So, he is used to batting in the powerplay should that situation arrive at No. 4, but he has also got experience and power and is a good player of spin throughout the middle phase as well,” the England captain noted.
Burned-out Bairstow ready for T20 WC
An opener otherwise, Jonny played at number four in the recently-concluded four-match T20Is against Pakistan at home, scoring 49 runs in two outings. Before this preparatory series for the T20 World Cup, Bairstow spent a good five months in India since October last year.
He participated in the 2023 World Cup and then played the five-match Tests in January-March before plying his trade for Punjab Kings in IPL 2024 – where, while opening, he scored a hundred and helped his team chase the biggest total in T20 cricket (against KKR at the Eden Gardens).
Despite so much cricket, Bairstow is excited about this tournament and remains in a happier space, per his captain.
“I think he’s excited. I think he’s in a good space,” Buttler said. “He’s been away for a long time, but he is a very proud guy, and he has been playing a lot of cricket for England over that period of time, which is where he wants to be.
“So, he seems in a good space. His family is going to be with him on this trip as well, which is nice. And I think getting that injury just before the last T20 World Cup, I’m sure he’s really excited for this one,” Buttler concluded.
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