Jos Buttler is expected to overcome “heavy bruising” to a hip in time for England’s World Cup match against West Indies at Southampton on Friday.
The wicketkeeper-batsman suffered the injury while hitting a six during the 106-run win against Bangladesh on Saturday, with Jonny Bairstow replacing him behind the stumps.
But England have since said that Buttler is “responding well” to treatment and is expected to resume training on Wednesday. “He will be reassessed later this week,” a team spokesperson said.
Moeen Ali, who sat out the match in Cardiff on Saturday for tactical reasons, is also expected to travel to Southampton but, with his wife due to give birth in the coming days, the all-rounder’s availability remains subject to change.
Ben Stokes has rejected the idea the World Cup might offer some sort of redemption [for him] after last year’s [personal] troubles. “I’m not going to suddenly be an angel, because that’s not me,” he told Red Bulletin magazine. “It’s just about trying to make better decisions but I don’t think of this in terms of it being a second opportunity.
“People have said to me, ‘Are you trying to prove yourself all over again?’ But I don’t have to do that. I don’t have to prove myself to anyone. I only have to prove things to myself. As long as England win, I don’t really care about trying to prove a point to people.”
West Indies’ coach, Floyd Reifer, has confirmed Andre Russell will be fit to face England after the all-rounder was left out of the side to face South Africa in Monday’s washed-out game at Southampton as a precautionary measure. “The game against England is a big game for us and we’re looking forward to that … so we’re wrapping him in cotton wool.”
Reifer said his batsmen were looking forward to the challenge of facing Jofra Archer. “We’ve known Jofra for a long time,” said the coach, who played club cricket against him when he was growing up in Barbados. “Yes, he’s bowling quickly, but there’s nothing that we’re not accustomed to. I’m sure Jofra will be chomping at the bit to come at us and we’ll be ready for him.”
The rain, which arrived at the Hampshire Bowl mid-morning and never threatened to leave, gave South Africa the first point of their otherwise abysmal tournament. Only 7.3 overs were possible after Jason Holder won the toss and put Faf du Plessis’s struggling team in, although Sheldon Cottrell still managed to leave a dent in that time.
By 10.40am the floodlights were on and by 11am South Africa were 29 for two, with Hashim Amla caught at slip, and Aiden Markram – brought into the side for the out-of-touch JP Duminy – edging down leg.
After three defeats in three South Africa may want to thank the rain. At least it keeps alive their chances of reaching the semi-finals, if they can somehow engineer victories in their remaining games against Afghanistan, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Australia.
Du Plessis was asked if he felt his team now have five cup finals to play. “Yeah, as simple as,” said the South Africa captain, who seemed rather more relaxed than he has been for a fortnight. “We’re in this position because we haven’t played our best cricket, so we don’t deserve to be anywhere near the top of the log.”
He expressed no concern over Amla’s perceived fragility in this tournament. “Hash is a class player … he’ll be disappointed that he got out today but he has been hitting the ball really well in the nets, so I think that it’s round the corner for him.”