Branded a ‘Jack of all trades’, by England captain Harry Brook, Will Jacks starred in the team’s 51 run drubbing of Sri Lanka in the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup.
For all the admiration for Jacks’ talents, highlighted by his selection for the Ashes at the start of this winter, few would have forecast this rise as a talismanic figure in England’s World Cup campaign.
The chances he has seized arguably should not have arisen at all. Even so, England have relied on him against Nepal 39 not out, Scotland 16 not out and Italy 53 not out, three unbeaten knocks from the de facto No.7 that dragged them from awkward positions.
Now a recognised threat, he waited as the top order slipped to 68 for four after 10 overs. When Sam Curran departed at 94 for five at the start of the 14th, Jacks was summoned once more.
His 21 from 17 balls was the slowest of his four double figure scores in this tournament. Sri Lanka national cricket team contained him well enough, dismissing him with seven balls remaining. Unfortunately for them, Jacks responded in kind.
“He always tells me he bowls better when he’s angry,” said Harry Brook after the match. Jacks directed that frustration into a probing length from around the wicket to both right and left handers. A leading edge from Mendis and a wild swipe from Rathnayake brought consecutive wickets before Wellalage gifted him a third in his final over.
That he delivered his first four overs from one end underlined the trust invested in him and the assurance with which he is repaying it. He now has three player of the match awards at this tournament.
Buttler’s woes continue
Jos Buttler insisted he would not temper his attacking instincts in pursuit of form at this T20 World Cup and he remained true to that stance. A length ball from Dunith Wellalage was met with an attempted reverse sweep, Buttler upright and looking to pierce the vacant region behind point.
Instead, the bat missed by a distance and the ball thudded into his knee in front of middle stump. The brief discussion with Phil Salt about a review felt unnecessary. Buttler turned and walked.
In truth, that may have been his clearest decision of the afternoon. Retaining a review would have only compounded matters.
Four dot balls in the previous over from Dilshan Madushanka had already illustrated his discomfort. England’s premier white ball batter appears out of rhythm, even his trigger compromised by the left arm seamer’s angle across him.
Buttler is averaging 12 at this World Cup. This latest innings, his third successive single figure score, marks a 12th without a half century. Questions will inevitably surface about the former captain.
For now, the faith remains strong, shaped in part by Brendon McCullum and his commitment to backing senior players. “He’s a powerhouse of world cricket,” said Brook defiantly. “He’s arguably the greatest white-ball player to ever play the game”
Yet at 35, Buttler is enduring a severe slump. Severe enough that, on this occasion at least, his dismissal ultimately benefited the side.