England stand-in captain Jose Butler has backed top batsman Johnny Bairstow to score the country’s leading century after scoring 124 against India, helping England win the series in the final game on Sunday. Bairstow – England won the second of a three-match series with Ben Stokes’ 52-ball 99, and said he wanted to score the most ODI centuries for England. He now has 11 centuries in 85 matches, five behind Root, 16 ahead, and 12 behind Marcus Trescothick and 13 behind Eoin Morgan. “Johnny has been in incredible form for us over the years, he was one of the world’s leading batsmen in ODI cricket and he was amazing to watch,” said Butler, who is replacing the injured Morgan as captain.
Butler said the England team wanted to push back the “boundaries” with their attacking game and the record was to take on Bairstow, who has been in the top 10 in the world for many years.
“It’s the fantastic form that Johnny is in and there’s no reason not to break all those records.”
The batsman could not make it to the regular Test but became the first choice in limited overs.
“He is certainly no less in our favor,” said Butler. “He is truly our leading player.”
He said, “He is too scared to bowl. I know I played against Johnny in the IPL, in the bowlers’ meeting they say ‘what shall we do to this man’ and a lot to be honest.” The answer is no.
“He is very much appreciated in our favor and I think everyone knows that he is a special player,” he said.
After being hammered in the first game, England’s batting fireworks made it the final game of the tour on Sunday to flatten the ODI series, another playoff game after the T20 series went to the wire.
“It is fantastic to be in the second final,” Butler said. “They are great games to get into.”
“It was an outstanding performance yesterday so we are very confident in the game on Sunday.”
England, who still suspect fast bowler Mark Wood and batsman Sam Billings, have an added incentive to win as World Cup holders could lose India the number one spot in the world rankings.
Butler insisted that the pressure would not change his game plan.
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He said, “We want to push the boundaries of what we are capable of and be true to.”
“Probably what I’m most proud of as a member of this team is that we got a little criticism from the first game, but we came out and played in exactly the same way.”
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