This really has been one relaxed English cricketer’s season. And yes, not every achiever in the current context of England cricket has to be Joe Root. The man in question was recently back in India where his batting heroics, rather, fireworks nearly took Rajasthan to the brink of qualifying even beyond the IPL Playoffs. He pounded Rajasthan Royals’ rivals with the bat and sent them out of the park courtesy some big striking. He seemed imperious. He seemed determined to cause savagery.
Behind the stumps, he remains gentlemanly, but in front of the stumps, he believes in unfolding a carnage of sorts with the willow in his hand. Is there any stopping Jos Buttler nowadays?
Seemingly one of cricket’s most gentlemanly, relaxed, cool and composed custodians and one of the warmly reassuring sights in English cricket, it appears that right-handed bat Jos Buttler wears some cool weathers on his sleeves.
But having lost the First Test against Pakistan only to come back stronger to register a thumping win here at the historic Headingley, what really provoked stylish butcher with the bat, Jos Buttler? A lot has been said, interestingly, in the aftermath of Jos Buttler’s bellowing of England’s close-rivals this summer: Pakistan. Why is the big-hitting English wicketkeeping batsman’s bat handle, above all other things, making news? Isn’t this rather surprising?
Apparently, news confirms that there was a message of sorts that was on Jos Buttler’s bat handle. In case you were curious to know what exactly it was, here’s something interesting for introspection.
Firing 80 runs in all where a massive 35 were collected from mere 11 balls, Jos Buttler sought immense motivation from a message on his bat’s handle. Of the many cameras that were intensely capturing every minute detail of a truly exciting, pulsating contest, the latter a word that keenly describes Buttler’s might, one shutterbug zoomed in on the devastating bat of the belligerent batsman.
There was a simple 2-letter word inscribed on it. It simply read, ” F*** it.” Can you believe that? There are cricketers who are superstitious, there are also those who believe in focusing their attention on things that really matter so as to up the ante of their concentration or focus before any key, particular day or moment. And then there are rather sorted blokes if it could be said, like England’s Jos Buttler. They believe in staying true to a simple albeit uncomplicated mantra in life.
In this regard, given the prelude to England’s victorious second Test (at the Headingley where they now have triumphed) where they lost the first game to Pakistan, it could be said that what Buttler’s bat carried was only too realistic an endeavour. He would have earmarked himself to go after Pakistan’s bowlers and engage in a brutally honest exhibition of strokeplay with the bat. And hence, the words, “F*ck it” seemingly implying that leave everything else and let things be, simply go out there and express yourself brutally and honestly.
Indeed, that is what transpired as the dashing willower collected runs quicker than the rising rate of stocks on a surprising day at the share market. And in the end, there was pillaging of Pakistani bowlers who had uprooted England in the Test series’ opener.
In the end, what an incredible win it indeed was for one of cricket’s truly unpredictable sides, wasn’t it and one, that could, on current form and line-up of talent could go a really long way in the most important cricketing carnival that is slated to take place the next year: the ICC Cricket 50-over World Cup. One wonders, what can Buttler bring up then? Maybe, a rerun of the same message?