Swashbuckling batsman Jos Buttler on Saturday said he models his game on South African master-blaster AB de Villiers after he smashed England’s fastest-ever one-day international century.
Buttler, 25, scored 116 not out in the fourth ODI against Pakistan in Dubai on Friday, reaching his hundred off just 46 balls.
De Villiers holds the record for the fastest one-day hundred — off just 31 balls against the West Indies at Johannesburg in January this year.
Buttler said the invention of Twenty20 and De Villiers’ approach are reasons for his own big-hitting style.
“As everyone always says, the invention of Twenty20, and someone like De Villiers is someone who’s changed the game completely. Everyone else is wanting to follow his lead,” said Buttler.
The wicketkeeper-batsman’s devastating knock included eight sixes and ten boundaries and helped his team to an imposing total of 355 for five. Pakistan were bowled out for 271, handing England an 84-run win and 3-1 series triumph.
“The consistency he (De Villiers) shows is mind-blowing, to score at that rate. Everyone is watching the game evolve, and every player is a cricket fan, so they watch a lot of cricket. To see guys like him and all the others who do that sort of thing, you want to emulate that.”
Buttler said the knock was satisfying after being dropped from the Test series following the second match at the same ground.
“To come back to this ground, having been dropped after the Test match here and have a bit better day is obviously immensely satisfying,” said Buttler.
England skipper Eoin Morgan said Buttler’s knock left the dresssing room dumbfounded.
“I think we were lost for words in the changing room,” said Morgan. “So many were used to describe it — but one that wasn’t was a surprise.
“We’re very privileged to work, train day in day out with Jos. The ability he shows there all came together for him.
“It was just absolutely incredible — certainly the best one-day knock I’ve ever seen in an England shirt.”