Feel like I have good experience and understanding of T20s: Buttler

Ask anyone in the world right now, they would point at Jos Buttler as one of the top batters in the shortest format of the game. The evolving format’s requirement is such it makes the batters’ take risk and Buttler is perhaps one of the well evolved strikers of the ball. 

While the English captain spent all his time in Pakistan, carrying drinks, he is expected to mark a return in the three-match T20I series against Australia. Buttler’s peak as a T20 batter came this year, when he smacked 863 runs in the IPL, taking Rajasthan Royals to their first-ever IPL final since the inaugural edition. 

And the 32-year-old star wasn’t hesitant to admit that he has a very good understanding of the T20 game at the moment. 

"I've had confidence in my game for a while now. I feel like I have good experience and a good understanding of the T20 game,” Buttler told ESPNCricinfo.

Buttler also spoke on how his approach with the bat changed as he was promoted up the order. 

"When you're opening the batting, you don't need to take as big risks to get the same reward. Obviously in the powerplay, there's only two fielders outside the 30-yard circle so the bowlers' hands are tied in that sense and if you beat the infield, there's nobody on the boundary to stop it,” he added. 

"You don't have to take such big risks in the powerplay to be able to score at a certain rate. It's one really good thing for my game that I've spent a long time in the middle order and now a reasonable chunk at the top of the order as well: I feel like I can try and marry the two areas of the game up and try and bat for a long time in a T20 game."

One of the integral aspects of Buttler’s season with the Royals was his ability to clear the boundary with ease at any given point in the innings. Buttler insists that it was something that he has worked on consciously, to hit sixes during the lull period of the game. 

"It's certainly something I've thought more about: those big overs, and trusting my six-hitting ability; looking at the West Indian players and, in general, how they hit more sixes than other teams. I've seen that as a huge positive and a way to take pressure off myself: to know that I have the ability to hit sixes.

England’s next assignment before the T20 World Cup is against the defending champions, Australia, with the first T20I in Perth on Sunday (October 9).