Buttler produces "kamikaze batting" as England collapse in third Ashes Test

12/29/2021

England star Jos Buttler got out on the stroke of tea on day one of the third Ashes Test with a "kamikaze" dismissal.

Buttler, fresh off his 207-ball 26 in the second Test, charged down the wicket against Nathan Lyon and promptly smacked the ball straight to Scott Boland at deep midwicket.

His dismissal left England on 128-6 at the end of the second session and on the verge of getting bowled out for less than 200.

Speaking on BBC Test Match Special, former England international Jonathan Agnew described the shot Buttler played as "hideous".

He said: "That was a hideous dismissal. He's just given a catch to deep square leg. Buttler played so resolutely in Adelaide and then does that."

Ex- Australia batter Simon Katich, meanwhile, told SEN: "I'm still gobsmacked. That was England's last real hope of a substantial partnership. It speaks of the mindset in that dressing room."

"I'm speechless," added former Australia opener Chris Rogers. "He just had to get through that over. That is kamikaze batting really."

Buttler was one of three England wickets to fall in the session, with captain Joe Root and star all-rounder Ben Stokes also getting out as England were eventually bowled out for 185.

Root was caught behind off Mitchell Starc after reaching his half-century, while Stokes played an awkward uppercut off Cameron Green and was caught at point.

Steve Harmison was hugely critical of the way all three players were out, describing their dismissals as "indefensible".

"I think Australia have both some good balls in this session and they've put some good pressure on, but it's Test cricket", Harmison told BT Sport.

"You have to withstand that, you have to overcome that, you have to stand up and take passages of play in and then you earn the right to score runs.

"That's indefensible. I'm sorry, that's three of our senior players. That's Joe Root, that's Ben Stokes and that's Jos Buttler.

"All three could've avoided getting out in that session and Australia are walking off thinking 'We've bowled some of the best balls in this Test series on this surface by pitching it up and we've not got a wicket. England have given us three. Thank you very much, we're going to enjoy our tea.'

"You can't defend that."

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