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INTERNATIONAL STARS OF BETWAY SA20 | JOS BUTTLER
England’s T20 World Cup winning captain is blue-chip royalty in the realms of 20-over cricket.
There is arguably no finer T20 opening batter on the global franchise circuit. Buttler’s consistency across leagues and conditions sets him apart from the rest.
The evidence was on full display during the maiden Betway SA20 season last year where he finished as the league’s leading run-scorer with 391 runs.
Buttler’s sparkling performances virtually single-handedly drove Paarl Royals to the semi-finals, where they eventually fell short to the Pretoria Capitals.
The 33-year-old is not just an accumulator of runs too. He does it in the most exhilarating and exciting fashion.
Not since Proteas legend AB de Villiers has there been a batter that has been able to access the ground in a ‘360-degree’ manner the way Buttler does.
Jos Buttler's 360-degree batting is reminiscent of former South Africa legend AB de Villiers.
His trademark shot is jumping across to the off stump against the fast bowlers and paddling it over short fine leg.
Equally, though, Buttler is comfortable to punch the ball straight down the ground or pull it through mid-wicket for six.
The England skipper, however, endured a lean trot during the recent 50-over ICC World Cup in India.
Such is Buttler’s importance to the teams he represents that England, who were the defending champions, subsequently endured a disappointing campaign.
Royals fans will, though, have watched the recent crackerjack T20I series between the West Indies and England in the Caribbean with great interest where Buttler regained his magical touch.
In partnership with Pretoria Capitals’ Phil Salt, Buttler was his old self again as the pair recorded consecutive century stands at the top of the order for England.
Jos Buttler and Phil Salt are partners for England but rivals in Betway SA20.
It seems time spent on the turquoise blue Caribbean beaches and white sand has reinvigorated Buttler after an intense past 24 months.
It comes just at the right time for the Royals with Buttler set to get straight into the thick of the action when last season’s semi-finalists open their campaign against the Capitals at Boland Park on Friday, 12 January.
