JOS BUTTLER has been warned by South Africa speedster Anrich Nortje to expect a bombardment in the Third Test.

England wicketkeeper Buttler is a target after his foul-mouthed outburst at Proteas bowler Vernon Philander in the last match.


A pumped-up Nortje, who has regularly hit 90mph in the series, declared: “It gets the blood flowing.

“And, once we identify a moment, we’ll probably try to rev it up.”

England will not be able to retaliate with their quickest bowler of the past year because Jofra Archer was ruled out of today’s Test with his recurring elbow injury.

But the tourists will have plenty of pace if, as expected, they choose Mark Wood ahead of Chris Woakes as replacement for the injured Jimmy Anderson.

Buttler was fined 15 per cent of his match fee — around £2,400 — for calling Philander a “f***ing kn*bhead” after he was struck by a throw from mid-off by Joe Root.

The England ace, who claimed Philander obscured his view of the ball, has apologised and admitted he lost control for 20 seconds.

But it still seems likely he will receive a warm reception when he takes guard at Port Elizabeth.
Nortje added: “It definitely gets one or two guys going.

“It’s not really something you can say on a stump mic — that’s for umpires and whoever to sort out.”

JIMMY TARGETING SRI LANKA RETURN

Anderson is targeting a return to action on England’s two-Test series in Sri Lanka, which starts on March 19.

The swing king, 37, broke a rib in England’s 189-run, series-levelling win in the Second Test at Cape Town.

Anderson said: “I was in the most pain I’ve ever been in on a cricket field.

"I thought I’d ripped a muscle off the rib, so a broken rib isn’t the worst outcome. A torn muscle would be anywhere from two, three or four months.

“A broken rib will hopefully be healed in three or four weeks.

“I want to come back stronger and still play a part in this England side. I’m not ruling out being fit for the Sri Lanka trip.”

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