Proof that Jos Buttler is learning from MS Dhoni the wicketkeeper as well

Ajit Vijaykumar 07:15 28/06/2018
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  • After he pulled of a remarkable chase in the fifth ODI against Australia by hitting an unbeaten century, England batsman Jos Buttler said he did what India icon MS Dhoni would do in a pressure situation while chasing.

    England seemed down and out at 114-8 chasing 205 in Manchester but Buttler secured a one-wicket win after hitting 110.

    After the match, Buttler said he tried to stay as calm as India veteran Dhoni, who has steered his team victory during tense chases on numerous occasions.

    “I just tried to soak up the pressure and tried to imagine what MS Dhoni would do. He would look unflustered and look calm and try to not panic till the end,” Buttler said.

    And it seems batting is not the only area Buttler is trying to emulate Dhoni. During the one-off T20 against Australia on Wednesday, Buttler kept wickets and it was the use of his right leg while standing up to the stumps that caught the eye.

    Dhoni came up with the idea of sticking his right leg out almost parallel to the ground when the batsman attempts to cut the ball. The idea is to stop the ball from going to third man. It’s a dangerous tactic as it means the keeper is off balance and can miss faint edges.

    MS Dhoni started using his right leg while keeping to stop cut shots.

    MS Dhoni started using his right leg while keeping to stop cut shots.

    Buttler seems to have picked up on that. In the T20 against the Aussies, Buttler could be seen sticking his leg out as far as he could.

    It is a very unusual technique that is not part of any coaching manual. Wicketkeepers are taught to rise with the ball and move with the gloves.

    It looks like Buttler is determined to become England’s all-conquering Dhoni.

    Aaron Finch guides the ball past Jos Buttler.

    Aaron Finch guides the ball past Jos Buttler.

    And just to give an example of what a ‘classic’ wicketkeeper would do, below is an image of Pakistan captain and gloveman Sarfraz Ahmed attempting to stop a late cut from England’s Joe Root in a T20 in 2015.

    Joe Root cuts past Sarfraz Ahmed.

    Joe Root cuts past Sarfraz Ahmed.

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