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Nasser Hussain, the former England cricketer, has provided insights into the challenges faced by Jos Buttler in his role as the captain of the England cricket team in the ODI World Cup 2023 in the previous match against South Africa.
South Africa’s remarkable victory over England
England’s CWC 2023 ambitions suffered a devastating setback as South Africa achieved a remarkable 229-run victory over them during the ODI World Cup 2023 on October 21. This historic defeat, the largest in England’s ODI history, has ignited critical discussions and introspection within the cricketing community.
Nasser Hussain delves into the difficulties Jos Buttler faces as captain
While voicing his concerns about the captaincy of Buttler, Hussain also expressed sympathy for the wicketkeeper-batter. The 55-year-old emphasized that Buttler found himself in a challenging situation, unsure of who to turn to, as players began to succumb to the extreme heat and humidity conditions in Mumbai.
“I think Jos [Buttler] didn’t have a great day because so many of them were struggling. Willey was going down with cramps, Stokes was struggling, Brook and Topley were getting treatment, Rashid was feeling sick. It was a nightmare, he didn’t know who to turn to,” Hussain said to Sky Sports.
Also READ: World Cup 2023: England captain Jos Buttler opens up on devastating loss against South Africa
England’s struggles and balance issues
Hussain didn’t hold back his criticism, stating that England’s team management got the team’s balance completely wrong during the match.
“We got the toss and the balance of the side wrong. The three changes in the squad moved England completely away from how they have been playing for years.Woakes had had no rhythm and on a flat pitch you leave him out and bring Stokes in, I agree with that decision. What I don’t like is the toss decision and reliance on stats,” the Chennai-born cricketer concluded.
Match overview and England’s devastating performance
In the match, England’s captain Buttler chose to bowl first after winning the toss. However, the Proteas delivered a powerhouse batting performance, with Heinrich Klaasen‘s remarkable century leading the way, supported by strong performances from Reeza Hendricks and Marco Jansen. South Africa amassed a formidable 399 runs in 50 overs.
In response, England’s batting lineup struggled under the onslaught of South Africa’s aggressive bowling, falling well short of the target with bowled out for only 170 runs in 22 overs. The comprehensive nature of this defeat prompts a critical examination of England’s performance and strategies in the World Cup.
