Georgia on his mind: England batsman Jos Buttler happy to have baby daughter as World Cup distraction Jos Buttler has admitted baby daughter is a welcome distraction to World Cup England batsman is expected to play starring role in this summer's tournament Buttler said: 'It's great [being a father]. It allows you to have a genuine escape' He also believes he's in form of his life after a destructive ton against Pakistan By Glen Williams For The Daily Mail Published: 22:00 BST, 22 May 2019 | Updated: 22:00 BST, 22 May 2019 Viewcomments The stresses of becoming a father for the first time might weigh heavily on some — but for Jos Buttler, it is a more than a welcome distraction. The England batsman, who many hope will have a starring role in this summer's World Cup, last month cut short his stint in the IPL and flew home to be beside his wife Louise before she gave birth to their baby girl, Georgia Rose. And while the pressures of the World Cup loom, Buttler is grateful for the comparative serenity of fatherhood. England batsman Jos Buttler is happy to have baby daughter Georgia as World Cup distraction 'It's really rewarding and we are just finding our way at the moment,' he said. 'But we are both really enjoying it. 'In a way, it's great. It allows you to have a genuine escape. There's lots going on — lots of noise about the cricket — but my wife and our little baby are great because it just allows me to really switch off as much as you can from the cricket, because all your focus has to be on that. 'So it's been nice to have them. They've travelled around to the one-day series and spending time with them has been great.' Buttler cut short his stint in the IPL to be his wife as she gave birth to their first child last month The idea of Buttler as a gentle, doting father off the pitch is a complete juxtaposition to the destroyer-in-chief which he has become on it. His destructive century in England's win over Pakistan earlier this month, watched by his new-born baby down in Southampton, confirmed to him that he is in the best form of his life. 'I certainly feel in the best place I've been,' he added. 'I've had more experience, I'm getting older and learnt lots about myself. So being able to put that into practice, I certainly feel like I'm playing as well as I have done.' For England, being billed as favourites for this home World Cup is something of a rarity. But their peerless white-ball form since the woeful campaign in Australia four years ago has rightly put them top of the bill. Buttler believes he is in the best form of his life after a destructive century against Pakistan Buttler believes England's dramatic upward trajectory leading up to this World Cup is down to the marked shift to place a bigger emphasis on white-ball cricket, spearheaded by former director Andrew Strauss. 'I think, for England, Test cricket has always been seen above one-day cricket, in the way it's planned and the way people viewed one-day cricket in this country,' he said. 'That was always Andrew Strauss's vision, to come in and improve the emphasis on white-ball cricket. So we've seen lots more players going to the IPL in the last few years and trying to improve their games in different tournaments and bring that back to England. 'Our preparation has been as good as it possibly could be.' Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility