Jos Buttler has backed “incredible talent” Jamie Smith to thrive in his surprise promotion to number three within the batting order for England’s Champions Trophy clash against Australia on Saturday.
Smith has ousted Phil Salt as wicketkeeper for England’s tournament opener in Lahore and is carded at first drop, despite never having batted higher than number five in 18 international appearances.
He averages 22.16 with a high rating of 49 in seven ODIs but has impressed as wicketkeeper-batter in Tests since making his debut last July to finish a long-running debate concerning the problem position.
And Buttler has backed the 24-year-old, who has only batted once at number three for Surrey in List A cricket, to thrive in his recent role in one other gamble taken by head coach Brendon McCullum.
Free Hit
“We just feel it’s a pleasant position to offer him a free hit to try to really impact the sport in that top three,” Buttler said at his pre-match press conference.
“Jamie is an incredible talent who has taken to international cricket so well. You possibly can place him in that position to try to have a extremely big impact with quite a few guys behind him.
“He’s obviously got the sport technically and tactically, the top on his shoulders is considered one of his biggest strengths. I believe you can ask him to bat anywhere within the line-up and it wouldn’t faze him.”
With Salt opening the batting alongside Ben Duckett and Smith to follow, Buttler has given the trio free licence to attack the 10-over powerplay with an experienced middle order offering protection.
Middle Order
Yorkshire pair Joe Root and Harry Brook will likely be at numbers 4 and five respectively with Buttler back at six – where he has batted essentially the most in a decorated ODI profession – and Liam Livingstone at seven.
“That top three will be really aggressive and impose themselves and check out and play a match-defining innings, with the blanket of Root, Brook and myself and Livi behind,” Buttler told the BBC.
England have reinforced the batting after their struggles against spin were laid bare by India on a chastening tour where they lost seven of eight matches and were swept 3-0 within the ODI series.
Nevertheless, they’ve just 4 frontline options to call upon as Jofra Archer and Mark Wood are set to play an ODI for the primary time together in two years alongside fellow paceman Brydon Carse and leg-spinner Adil Rashid, with Livingstone and Root set to share fifth bowler duties.
“We back the blokes we’ve picked,” Buttler added. “It’s a extremely exciting line-up.
“Besides the outcomes, the environment within the group is great, the mood within the camp is admittedly excited and the perception is considered one of huge optimism.
“We all know we’ve got plenty of talent, we wish to perform to the extent we all know we’re able to, we’re working hard to do this and we all know the outcomes will come.”
READ MORE: Jos Buttler determined to rediscover form with bat in Champions Trophy
