English cricketer Jos Buttler’s most potent quality perhaps is the composure he maintains despite sledging from opposition players. He’s rarely been known to respond to players unless they cross the line (like Bangladesh did in 2016).
In the match against the Windies, Buttler was on fire smashing 150 off just 77 deliveries, thrashing every bowler who tried to test him. Towards the end, Buttler even found a way to give it back to Windies bowler Sheldon Cottrell with swag many wouldn’t have expected from him.
For those who have not been following the England’s tour of Windies, Cottrell has a distinctive style of celebrating his scalps. Every time he takes a wicket, he gives the batsman a send off by saluting him. He did the same when he took a five-wicket haul against England in the second ODI. Although Buttler was not dismissed by the left-arm fast bowler in this match, he paid the bowler back for the humiliation.
The English wicketkeeper-batsman cheekily saluted the Caribbean bowler after hitting him for a huge six in the 49th over. His partner Ben Stokes couldn’t stop smiling after the salute. Even the commentators were in splits:
We salute you, @josbuttler! pic.twitter.com/jdCoX1gmsi
— Lancashire Cricket (@lancscricket) February 27, 2019
The salute sent Twitter into a frenzy:
WoW…. Buttler ain’t just SALUTE Cottrell banter at its highest there #ENGvWI https://t.co/AREd1SprdW
— ᎫᎾℋℕ ℬℐℛⅅ. (@JOHNBUDGIEBIRD) February 27, 2019
And not his big hitting?
Jos Buttler’s salute might be my favourite bit of this game #WIvsENG
— Calum (@Balum205) February 27, 2019
Absolute best!
Jos Buttler saluting Sheldon Cotterel might just be the best thing I’ve witnessed today #WIvENG pic.twitter.com/SoZqecXK7g
— Rortonjibes (@rortonjibes) February 27, 2019
Helpless Cottrell
Brilliant from @josbuttler .. #SaluteOnThat #WIEng @BumbleCricket pic.twitter.com/L3qBrdRXE9
— Chico02 (@dannyricho7) February 27, 2019
Too cheeky!
Just when you think @josbuttler couldn’t get any better…
He smashes Cottrell for six and gives him a cheeky salute back! #WIvENG pic.twitter.com/6MfOa2U7oj
— All Out Cricket (@AllOutCricket_) February 27, 2019
Troll level – infinity
Jos Buttler we salute you never mind you trolling the bowler what a knock!
— Mark Phillips (@Captain_5678) February 27, 2019
Pure class from Buttler, the returned Salute pic.twitter.com/Hi2HtgNt2T
— David Parry (@davidparry110) February 27, 2019
The 28-year-old scored at a strike rate of 194.81. His record-breaking 150 had 13 fours and 12 sixes. The destructive batsman took England to a gigantic score of 418 for 6 in 50 overs which turned out to be too much for the hosts to chase down inspite of Chris Gayle’s massacre innings of 162.
There is still one more ODI to go into the series followed by three T20Is. Cottrell won’t forget that easily and will be raring to bowl to Buttler again.
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