Jos Buttler has backed “incredible talent” Jamie Smith to thrive in his surprise promotion to number three in the batting order for England’s Champions Trophy clash against Australia on Saturday.
However, they have just four frontline options to call upon as Jofra Archer and Mark Wood are set to play an ODI for the first time together in two years alongside fellow paceman Brydon Carse and leg-spinner Adil Rashid, with Livingstone and Root set to share fifth bowler duties.
Yorkshire pair Joe Root and Harry Brook will be at numbers four and five respectively with Buttler back at six – where he has batted the most in a decorated ODI career – and Liam Livingstone at seven.
And Buttler has backed the 24-year-old, who has only batted once at number three for Surrey in List A cricket, to thrive in his new role in another gamble taken by head coach Brendon McCullum.
“We just feel it’s a nice position to give him a free hit to try and really impact the game in that top three,” Buttler said at his pre-match press conference.
