As Indian players gear up for reduced time with families during lengthy tours abroad owing to a BCCI diktat, England captain Jos Buttler on Tuesday said having partners and children on long overseas assignments is “really important” and does not affect the game “too much”. Limited time with family members on tours was a contentious clause in the BCCI’s recently-circulated 10-point disciplinary policy for players. India’s Test and ODI skipper Rohit Sharma has already voiced his apprehension with the clause that allows families no more than two weeks on tours exceeding 45 days.
“…that’s a loaded question, isn’t it?” Buttler said on the eve of the five-match series against the Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian T20 side, seemingly well aware of the current turmoil here following a disastrous Test tour of Australia.
“I think it’s important. We live in a day and age now, which is a very modern world, and I think it’s great to be able to have families on the tour with you and try and enjoy that,” he added.
“There’s a lot of cricket, people spend a long time away from home, and I think post-COVID all that’s been highlighted as well. Absolutely, I don’t think it affects the cricket too much.” Buttler also asserted that the presence of families does not interfere with professional commitments and can be managed effectively.
“I think it’s something that is very manageable. Personally, from my point of view, I think it’s really important to try and be able to share that with your family and lighten the load on being away from home,” he explained.
The BCCI has stated that any relaxation on the family time rule would require prior approval from head coach Gautam Gambhir.
England skipper Jos Buttler is confident that the T20I series against India will not hamper their preparation for the upcoming Champions Trophy, and he also hopes to build a working relation with new head coach Brendon McCullum on this tour.
The ODI-format Champions Trophy will start from February 19, and England will play just three 50-over matches against India in the run-up to the marquee tournament.
“It’s going to be a great series against a really top side in their own conditions. There’s loads to look forward to. I’m not worried about schedules at the moment. I’m just looking forward to playing some games,” Buttler said on the eve of the first T20I here at the Eden Gardens.
“I think it’s going to be a really exciting T20 series. Obviously, there’s some ODIs to follow, so yeah, I’m just looking forward to the games,” he added.
McCullum, the red-ball coach, had succeeded Matthew Mott as England’s limited over formats coach, and Buttler wanted to build the bond with the Kiwi.
“Obviously, it’s not a new setup because Baz (McCullum) has been around for a while,” Buttler said.
“There are a lot of players in this squad who have worked with him in the Test team over the years. So, yeah, I’m just looking forward to building that relationship in the white-ball setup.” England have arrived in India with a full-strength squad with Jofra Archer and Mark Wood leading the pace department.
“Sometimes there’s so much cricket that certain players have to be rested or managed, but that’s certainly not the case for us at all in this series.
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