Cricket

‘It’s lame…goes against everything you want to be as a team’: Jos Buttler on the Dharamshala pitch

The outfield at HPCA Stadium came under scrutiny after the first game of the ongoing tournament, which saw defenders from both teams tripping as they tried to chase the ball.

Josh Buttler (3)Jos Buttler from England during training. (Reuters)

Listen to this article
Your browser does not support the audio element.

Asked if he had any reservations about the pitch in Dharamshala, where his team will face Bangladesh on Tuesday, Jos Buttler replied: “Yes, a few.”

Addressing reporters ahead of the second match of the 2023 World Cup, the England captain said: “It goes against everything you want to be as a team. You want to dive in to save the run. The surface is not perfect. We won’t use it as an excuse, but it will certainly hold you back from where you want to be as a team.

Buttler further added that while he and a few others had played at this venue earlier this year during the IPL, the surface on offer was not the same.

The outfield at HPCA Stadium came under scrutiny after the first game of the ongoing tournament, which saw defenders from both teams tripping as they tried to chase the ball.

A general view of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala. (Reuters)

After the match, Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott described Mujeeb Ur Rahman as lucky to have escaped serious injury while diving to save a boundary in the deep.

Most read

1
Kajol Claims She Doesn’t Seek Professional ‘Validation’ From Ajay Devgn: ‘We Have 2 Kids, 4 Cars and 2 Dogs We Can Talk About’
2
One Scindia giving way to another? The BJP is in a frenzy after Yashodhara Raje bids farewell to Shivpuri

“Injuries can happen at any time. It’s definitely a surface you’ll want to be even more careful on, and that’s not what you want to do for your country. You want to put your body on the line. Guys who are rushing and need to throw quickly need that confidence. But we are professionals so we will adapt,” Buttler said.

“It’s natural to see the ball and want to dive for it. I think it’s special to be honest. I know it will be the same for both teams. Let’s hope no one on either side gets injured,” he added.

After receiving an “average” rating in the match referee’s report after the first match, the Dharamshala pitch was deemed suitable for Tuesday’s England-Bangladesh match.

© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd

First published: Oct 9, 2023 at 1:54 pm EST


#lame…goes #team #Jos #Buttler #Dharamshala #pitch

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *