THE BUTTLER DID IT!

Jos has solved the ‘Test problem’ at last and he couldn’t give a XXXX

JOS BUTTLER has put his successful return to Test cricket down to experience and not just a carefree attitude.

The two-word phrase “f*** it” inked into the top of his bat handle was caught by TV cameras at Headingley.

And it offers a clear explanation of how he wants to play – with freedom, as he did for his 80 not out.

It is the approach he takes into white-ball games where he has been a roaring success, but it did not work out for him first time around in Test cricket.

The difference in England’s two-match series against Pakistan is he is a couple of years older, a couple of years more experienced and has a couple more years of whiteball globetrotting that has broadened his horizons.

Regarding the rude message emblazoned on his bat, Buttler said: “I think the words are just something that reminds me of what my best mindset is.

“When I’m playing cricket and probably in life as well, it puts cricket in perspective.

“When you nick off, does it really matter? It’s just a good reminder when I’m in the middle, when I’m questioning myself and it brings me back to a good place.

“My mentality has been quite similar to my first few Tests. Not worrying about external factors, just trying to play the game, trusting myself.

“The big difference is experience. When I was a young player I didn’t really believe in experience when the older guys told me I would improve or understand things with time.

“I used to think you could either do it or you couldn’t.

“But now I understand how valuable experience is – and maturity – to help you to deal with not only the on-field stuff, but what goes on around it.”

Buttler’s maturity, dressing-room character and level-headedness is why he has already been installed as England’s white-ball vicecaptain, standing in for Eoin Morgan in Bangladesh.

But it is also why there is hope that he might become established in the Test team to the point where he becomes a viable captaincy alternative to Joe Root (below) in time.

Right now he is simply keen to build on his good start and the confidence he has got from scoring heavily in the IPL and then being picked by new national selector Ed Smith.

“Coming into the series with someone putting so much faith in me as a real wild-card pick gave me a hell of a lot of confidence,” Buttler added. “For someone to say, ‘I’m backing you, you’re good enough’.

“I’m not going to get far ahead of myself. It’s about doing that consistently and it is an exciting summer ahead. “There’s a really good feeling in that dressing room and that’s something we have to keep very tight. “That’s the most important thing, in my opinion.

“With the white-ball side, there’s always been that drive of trying to push boundaries and we have guys here who are just as hungry.”

ENGLAND physios are looking at the post-ipl workloads of their bowlers after two suffered injuries in their first red-ball games of the season. Ben Stokes and now Chris Woakes (left) have been ruled out of the Scotland ODI on Sunday with strains...