Jos Buttler set to replace Craig Kieswetter in England line-up for fourth ODI
Last Updated: January 22, 2013 12:37pm
Jos Buttler: Set for England call-up for fourth ODI
Sky Bet
-
Cricket Betting
Jos Buttler is set to replace Somerset team-mate Craig Kieswetter as England's one-day wicketkeeper in Wednesday's fourth ODI with India in Mohali.
Kieswetter has been first choice since the 2011 World Cup but he has had little impact with the bat - with no half-centuries in 12 games since the start of 2012 - and a duck in the third ODI appears to have been the final straw.
In the absence of Jonny Bairstow, Buttler looks certain to be given a run-out in Mohali - he was given an extensive keeping work-out on Tuesday.
Buttler played as a specialist batsman in his only previous one-day appearance but was selected behind the stumps for the two Twenty20 matches against India before Christmas.
Spinner James Tredwell admits changing the man behind the stumps mid-series is not the ideal scenario but is confident in Buttler's ability, should he get the nod.
"I guess as a bowler you do like to have a relationship (with the keeper), that's great, but unfortunately in the cut and thrust of sport you don't often get to do it like that," said the spinner.
"Teams do chop and change. We'll see what happens.
"Jos is a talented boy. I've not seen a lot of him keeping but I've seen him with the bat. I imagine if he's got anywhere near the talent with the gloves that he does with the bat he'll be fine."
With England 2-1 down in the five-match series, the tourists must win in Mohali to have any chance of winning the series.
Concerns over Steven Finn's fitness appear to have faded. He was struck on the finger in the nets on Wednesday but was back training on Thursday and is expected to be available.
India look likely to field a settled side, after back-to-back victories with the same XI.
Only Ajinkya Rahane is in serious danger of losing his place as opener, with Cheteshwar Pujara waiting in the wings.
But Rahane was man of the match when India defeated England at the same venue in 2011, scoring a career-best 91, and could be given another chance.
