England Secures Semi-Final Spot in ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026
England Advances to Semi-Finals
In a thrilling encounter on Tuesday in Pallekele, England became the first team to secure a place in the semi-finals of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, edging out Pakistan by two wickets. Despite a challenging tournament for veteran wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler, who has only scored 62 runs so far, his teammate Harry Brook has publicly supported him following the victory.
'Give Him Some Time': Brook Stands by Buttler
During a post-match press conference, Brook was questioned about his former captain's batting struggles. He confidently stated, "No, as I've mentioned before, he's a powerhouse in world cricket. He has proven himself on every platform, winning World Cups in both ODIs and T20s. It's just a matter of time before he finds his form again," as reported by the ICC.
Buttler's Recent Performance
Buttler's performance in the group stages included scores of 26 against Nepal, 21 against the West Indies, three against Scotland, and three against Italy. In the Super Eight opener, he managed only seven runs against Sri Lanka and just two runs against Pakistan.
Brook's Perspective on Buttler's Form
Addressing concerns about Buttler's form, Brook remarked, "I think people need to cut him some slack. His contributions to world cricket have been remarkable. With over 500 T20 matches and around 150 for England, he maintains an average of 35 with a strike rate of 145. He is arguably our best player, and while he may not be hitting the ball perfectly right now, I believe he deserves some understanding."
Buttler's Career Highlights
At 35, Buttler has played 153 T20 internationals for England, accumulating 4012 runs at an average of 34 and a strike rate of 147. He recently achieved the milestone of becoming the most capped England player in international cricket.
Match Summary
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Upcoming Matches
England's next challenge will be against New Zealand in their final Super Eight match on Friday in Colombo, while Pakistan is set to face Sri Lanka in Pallekele on Saturday.