Pakistan v England: Jos Buttler back near his best, says Nasser Hussain
'A couple reverse-swept fours, all of a sudden he felt much better'
Tuesday 17 November 2015 21:43, UK
Nasser Hussain was pleased to see Jos Buttler return to form in England's win over Pakistan in the third ODI in Sharjah.
Buttler hit 49 from 50 balls and smashed the winning runs with a six over midwicket as he and James Taylor (67no) saw England to a six-wicket win with an unbroken 117-run partnership.
Buttler's previous top-score for the tour of the UAE was 23, and he struggled too during the Ashes summer, averaging 15.25.
"We've all been there and been out of form," said Hussain. "But the more you think about it, the worse it gets.
"When you aren't playing well, you should actually stop thinking about it, stop netting, get away from the game and do something else otherwise your brain gets scrambled.
"Don't think today's innings was the best innings Buttler has ever played. When he first came in, his brain was scrambled, he ran past one third ball and could have been stumped, and was beaten past his outside edge on a number of occasions.
"But after two or three overs at the crease, a couple of reverse-sweeps for four, all of a sudden he felt much better, finding the middle of the bat.
"It's an anomaly really, because it's actually when you're playing well, that you should practice harder, and be in the nets longer.
"Professional sportsmen tend to do it the other way round and Buttler's brain was scrambled.
"We had Matt Prior speaking right at the start of the Test series about Jos and his problems and Matt said he went through the same.
"He wasn't a natural wicketkeeper, and he put so much effort into his wicketkeeping that something had to give.
"It's alright for us batsmen, you just focus in on your batting, and then on a fielding day, you have a day off.
"These wicketkeepers have to focus on everything, and Prior spent so much energy on his keeping, that he only had so much left in the tank for his batting.
"We've seen the same with Buttler, but if you're an all-rounder, you only need one part of your game to click to help the other, and his batting has clicked today."
Watch highlights of England's victory over Pakistan at 9pm and midnight on Sky Sports 2 then join us for the fourth and final ODI from 10.30am on Sky Sports 2 this Friday.
