Jos Buttler believes stopping Brendon McCullum key to England’s chances in ODIs

England wicket-keeper Jos Buttler thinks that if England are to start an ODI revival of sorts in the series against New Zealand, stopping the Kiwi Captain Brendon McCullum would be very important.

He feels that McCullum has the caliber to destroy and make any bowling attack look pretty ordinary, something which he did during this year’s ICC Cricket World Cup. It seems that Buttler who hinting at the pasting which England received at the hands of McCullum during the group game of the World Cup.

Buttler is hoping that England get off to winning start tomorrow in Edgbaston and said that the despite giving McCullum importance, the English team knows that the Kiwis are not a one man team.

“Hopefully our bowlers will get on top of him (McCullum). They have got some other very good players as well and are not just a one-man batting line-up. They have dangerous guys right down the order. They played a great style of cricket in the World Cup and were exciting to watch. They just came up short but reaching the final showed how strong and how talented a team they are.”

Talking about McCullum, Buttler said, “He has already shown against the very best bowlers that if he gets his eye in and starts middling it he can do so much damage. Once he gets into his rhythm and the confidence flows he seems to be able to hit any ball out the ground. So we are well aware of just how important a player he is for New Zealand and that we will need to keep him quiet.”

“At the same time, someone like him always gives you a chance. He’s such an attacking player you always feel in the game and that he could offer a catch somewhere.”

Buttler added that the English team would try to emulate the way the Kiwis have been playing and it would be a great contest between the two sides.

“They have changed the game a little bit. In a way we are trying to emulate them so it will be a very good test.”