Wicketkeepers are usually chirpy behind the stumps as they try to get into the batter's head and boost the players' morale. But England skipper Jos Buttler took it up a notch as he sledged South Africa batter Rassie van der Dussen during the second ODI of the three-ODI series when he thought he had missed a chance to dismiss him.
In the 19th over when Adil Rashid was bowling, van der Dussen could not read the googly. A thick inside edge hit his pads and the ball was in the air for a short while as Buttler tried to get to it. The half chance could not be converted and it irked the wicketkeeper as he had a heating exchange with the Proteas batter.
As there was physical contact between the two Buttler asked Dussen to relax. "I am trying to get to the ball," Buttler said to which Dussen replied "I saw".
The exchange between the two continued as Buttler said, "What’s your problem Rassie. It’s not all about you all the time I am allowed to try and catch the ball”.
At this point the on-field umpires intervened to prevent further escalation. At that point Dussen had scored 21 runs from 13 deliveries. Dussen did not bat for long but shared a crucial 97-run partnership for the second wicket with skipper Temba Bavuma. He scored 38 runs from 38 deliveries including three fours and one six while Bavuma went on to score his century to lay platform for the record run chase.
This is not the first time Buttler has sledged a South Africa batter. In a Test match at Cape Town in 2020, Buttler had used abusive language for former South Africa bowling all-rounder Vernon Philander. England had won that Test despite Philander’s fighting stay at the crease.
However, it did not end well for England in the second ODI as David Miller’s heroics and cameos from other batters helped South Africa chase down the target of 343 with five balls to spare and five wickets in hand.
Current white-ball World Champions will now take on South Africa in dead rubber three ODI on February 1 to seek a consolation win.
