England wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler has joined his team-mates in camp, following a period of quarantine on the Gold Coast after the T20 World Cup; tourists have been limited in their red-ball match practice by weather ahead of first Test in Brisbane on December 8
Last Updated: 30/11/21 7:26am
Jos Buttler believes the team which best deals with the disrupted preparations and distractions around the Ashes will win the upcoming series.
England have been limited in their red-ball match practice for the Ashes, with day one of the side’s second planned warm-up match against England Lions abandoned due to consistent rain in Queensland.
Meanwhile, Australia are recovering from the shock resignation of former captain Tim Paine, with the first of the five-Test series due to begin in Brisbane on December 8.
“Around the Ashes, there’s always certain things going on and the guys that can deal with the distractions an Ashes series throws up … is the team that’s going to play best,” Buttler said.
The wicketkeeper-batsman has joined his England team-mates in camp, following a period of quarantine on the Gold Coast after the T20 World Cup.
Buttler would not be drawn on hypothetical situations involving the possible moving of the fifth Test in Perth as Australia contends with the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant.
“I find it tiring to talk about it when you don’t know,” Buttler said in response to a query about the match potentially shifting to Tasmania.
“That’s not for me to worry about at the minute. There’s a week to go until the first Test here and all our energies are focused on that.”
Hours later, Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan said England and Australia’s players would be subject to a 14-day quarantine ahead of the Perth Test, which is scheduled to start just five days after the Sydney match ends.
“We have put in place very strict rules,” Mr McGowan said at a press conference.
“So we’ve said to them, ‘you need to have 14 days’ quarantine’. And that has to apply to all the broadcast staff, the cricket staff.
“They can’t just bring wives and girlfriends with them – same rules as we put in place for the AFL (Australian Football League).
“It’s up to them whether they want to adhere to those rules or not.”
England’s first warm-up match against a Lions side was called off due to rain with only 29 overs played and the rematch at Ian Healy Oval appeared unlikely to progress as rain was forecast to continue throughout Wednesday and Thursday.
Buttler aims to embrace Ashes challenge in Australia
Ahead of his first taste of Ashes cricket in Australia, Buttler, 31, is eager to bring a “fearless approach” in a bid to perform at his best.
“I feel like I have nothing to lose, to be honest,” he said, having scored only 72 runs in five innings during the home summer Test series against India.
“It’s sort of been disjointed, that [year] just gone. Some good form and some bad form and in the year before as well.
“It’s the first time I’m experiencing an Ashes series [in Australia] so I’m fully determined to enjoy all the challenges that throw up. I’m excited to experience it, the good the bad, and I’m sure the highs and lows along the way.
“As a player at the minute I’m trying to bring a fearless approach and to truly try and embrace the opportunity. I know when I get to somewhere near my best that’s going to be pretty good.”