A tale of three wicketkeepers for England

– Jos Buttler (right) is at the centre of a double selection dilemma that England must solve for the second Test against Sri Lanka starting today.

One doubt is who will be the wicketkeeper now that Jonny Bairstow is fit again, while Ben Foakes scored a brilliant century on his Test debut as a replacement in the last game and Buttler could also stand in.

England are also searching for a regular No 3 batsman and Buttler is again one of the candidates.

Bairstow injured his ankle playing football during training in the one-day international se- ries that England won 3-1 but is reported to be ready again.

Buttler, one of the keeper deputies around captain Joe Root as well as wicketkeeper for limited-overs games, was not sure who would take the gloves. He admitted that leaving out Foakes, who hit 107 in the first Test triumph, would be a tough decision.

“There are some options. He had a fantastic game in Galle, and probably one of the the best debuts ever in Test cricket.

“By lunch on day two, he had a hundred, a stumping and a catch,” Buttler said in praise of Foakes’ role in the 211-run victory in Galle last week.

“Ben’s come in and done brilliantly, but you have to remember what a brilliant player Jonny has been – one of, if not England’s best player for a number of years,” he said.

No 3 has become a long term gap in England’s arsenal even though Buttler insisted that the team have “great options”.

Moeen Ali looked far from convincing in the first Test – making a duck and three – while his eight wickets should guarantee his place in the team.

Buttler said he was ready – “if required”. “In this part of the world it doesn’t matter too much where you bat,” he said.

“Potentially it could be the best time to bat as well. There are some great options for the side. That’s what really exciting for the coach and the captain, trying to fit 11 players into the side,” he added.

England’s batsmen generally gained the upper hand against Sri Lanka’s spinners in the first Test, managing 342 in the first innings in a superb recovery after tottering at 103/5.

They finally won the game inside four days.