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'I Think It's Poor,' Jos Buttler Issues Warning Before Playing On Dharamshala Outfield

image-lniqujojDharamshala's outfield has come under the scanner (AP Photo)

Amidst growing discussions about the Dharamshala outfield's condition, England skipper Jos Buttler has voiced his dissatisfaction with the ground conditions. As they prepare for their forthcoming 2023 World Cup clash against Bangladesh, Buttler has raised his disapproval of the sandy Dharamshala outfield, categorizing it as subpar. 

Additionally, he has offered guidance to his England teammates, urging them to be cautious when diving or fielding in the outfield.

Buttler highlighted the challenges posed by the outfield and emphasized the importance of players diving and fielding without hesitation. He acknowledged that the outfield conditions were not ideal but assured that the team would adapt to the situation.

"I think it's poor, in my own opinion. I think any time you're talking about being careful diving, or maybe being careful when you're fielding, it goes against everything you want to be as a team. You want to dive through a row of houses to save a run. That's obviously not ideal, the way the surface is, the outfield. But we won't use it as an excuse. We'll adapt to it," said Jos Buttler while speaking at a pre-match press conference on October 10.

The issue of the Dharamshala outfield gained prominence after Afghanistan's coach, Jonathan Trott, criticized the ground conditions and expressed concerns about players' confidence in diving and fielding under such circumstances.

The 2023 World Cup encounter between Bangladesh and Afghanistan, culminating in a dominant win for Bangladesh, signified Dharamshala's debut as a host for ODI World Cup matches.

However, discussions following that match focused on the condition of the playing surface, particularly the sandy outfield, which raised safety concerns for the players.

Notably, the Dharamshala stadium had recently re-laid its outfield, especially near the boundary, in preparation for the tournament. 

Despite concerns, the ICC had given the stadium an 'Average' rating, allowing the match between England and Bangladesh to proceed as scheduled.

Following the England-Bangladesh match, Dharamshala is set to host three more World Cup matches, including the highly anticipated rematch of the 2019 semi-final between India and New Zealand on October 22.