Souped-up Buttler service gives Giles air of optimism

ENGLAND and Australia will meet 26 times across formats between tomorrow and February 2.

England's wicketkeeper Jos Buttler swings at the ball against New Zealand at Trent Bridge. Picture: Matt Dunham for AP.

ENGLAND and Australia will meet 26 times across formats between tomorrow and February 2.

Fittingly, that represents one game for every mile in a marathon, but it is a sprint of an innings that has roused England before the first of them, the Champions Trophy contest at Edgbaston.

As Jos Buttler reflected on his unbeaten 47 from 16 balls against New Zealand the previous evening, a shell-shocked Australia pondered how to reconstruct a batting order skittled for 65 by India in their final warm-up game and Michael Clarke continued to receive treatment for his back problem.

Clarke visited a specialist in London this week with early indications that he would be advised to rest for the first two matches in the tournament and conceivably its entirety . The problem facing the captain in that case is that his side may have suffered elimination by the time they face Sri Lanka in the final group A game on June 17.

"He is a talisman for them," Ashley Giles, the England limited-overs coach, said. "If he is missing, it is annoying for him and Australia, but it would be good for us. I did not quite chuckle when I saw they were bowled out for 65, but I was pleased they did not get a confidence boost. We do not want them playing well."

Giles sounded relieved as well as excited by the Buttler-inspired defeat of New Zealand at Trent Bridge. "It was still not anywhere near a perfect performance, but maybe we are not looking for that right now," Giles said, warning against peaking too soon.

With Stuart Broad and Steven Finn bowling sharply at times two days ago, the issue for England concerns balance as much as personnel. Ravi Bopara looked scratchy at the crease on his return, but bowled economically and Giles thinks that greater batting depth lifted pressure from Buttler. The 22-year-old made a late entrance in the 46th over, but Giles believes that he can make an impact over a longer innings.

"Jos only needed to bat like that once in 50-over cricket to be able to go on," Giles said. "He will not come off every time, but in T20, once he jumped that hurdle he looked a different player."

Buttler announced himself in the 20-over game by hitting 32 from ten balls against South Africa last September. A record of 36 runs from 45 balls across six innings since means England are awaiting the follow-up in that format at least.

With some high-scoring games in the warm-ups - Australia notwithstanding - and more runs in the opening fixture between India and South Africa yesterday, England have at least shown an alternative X-factor about the side in the absence of Kevin Pietersen.

"Buttler and Eoin Morgan are really dangerous players," Giles said. "They will win games for us and it is important that they are playing with some of the passion and freedom they showed at Trent Bridge."

Finn reported no after-effects on his sore shins. Boyd Rankin was duly released as cover overnight and England will retain their original 15-man squad for the tournament.

The Times