The first T20I match between England and Australia stirred a controversy right after Australian wicket-keeper batter Matthew Wade obstructed the field while trying to prevent Mark Wood from taking the catch.
Why Jos Buttler Didn’t Appeal Against Matthew Wade
During the England tour of Australia 2022, both teams are scheduled to play 3 T20I matches as a preparation series for T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia. Winning the toss Australia decides to bowl first. England scored 208 runs for 6 wickets loss at the end of the 20 overs.
England players weren’t amused with the Aussie wicket-keeper batter’s act but decided not to appeal against it. When Buttler was asked about the incident after the match, he said that he wasn’t sure what exactly had happened but would appeal if such an incident is repeated in the T20 World Cup.
Buttler revealed after the match that he was asked by the umpires if he wanted to appeal against Wade but he declined.
“I was looking at the ball the whole time, so I wasn’t sure what happened. They asked if I wanted to appeal, but I thought we are here for a long time in Australia so would be a risky one to go for so early in the trip,” Buttler said in the post-match presentation ceremony.
‘Just get on with the game’
England skipper Jos Buttler had no interest in stirring controversy in the first T20 after Matt Wade and Mark Wood collided #AUSvENG | @alintaenergy pic.twitter.com/GIhpOj6R2o
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 9, 2022
He was also asked if he would appeal for a similar incident at the 2022 T20 World Cup, and Buttler said: “Maybe, yeah”.
Australia eventually went on to lose the match by eight runs. Alex Hales was declared the Player of the Match for scoring 84 off 51 balls. Mark Wood took three wickets.
“It was a great game of cricket and we are delighted to get over the line,” Buttler added. “Australia played really well, put us under pressure. We were favorites for large parts of the chase. We needed to take wickets and that’s what we did.”
The second T20I match of the series will be played on October 12 in Manuka Oval, Canberra while the last match of the series will be played on October 14 in the same venue.
