Jos Buttler has defended the selection that left him with just four specialist bowling options as Australia pulled off a record chase against England cricket in the Champions Trophy.
The England skipper had been left with limited bowling options by a selection that prioritised batting depth, with Liam Livingstone and Joe Root combining as Buttler’s fifth bowler in a squad light on all-rounders.
Buttler’s side had seemed well set to open their campaign with a victory after Ben Duckett’s 165 set up a sizeable score, but they were unable to ever slow Australia’s scoring rate before Glenn Maxwell blasted them over the line.
But Buttler insisted that he did not feel he was lacking in options, even if the England captain admitted his attack must improve.
I thought Root and Livingstone bowled really well, built some nice pressure there together," Buttler said.
