Buttler ready and raring to Test himself against elite

JOS BUTTLER is determined to make the grade in Test cricket and join the elite band of batsmen who excel in all formats.

The 29-year-old endured a difficult winter in red-ball cricket for England, managing a top score of just 43 in five matches against New Zealand and South Africa.

Nevertheless, Buttler has been named in the squad for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka and he insists he can transfer his limited-overs skill-set to the Test arena.

Virat Kohli, Faf Du Plessis, Babar

Azam and David Warner are among the current batsmen who thrive with the red or white ball.

Buttler said: “There’s a crop of guys who are the best in the world, and they’re the best across all formats. They manage to do it. “You need to find breaks in your schedule – your mind is your biggest asset so you need to have time to get that to the best place when you turn up. That’s a big skill.

“But the best players can play all formats. You want to play all the games, be involved in all the formats. I certainly do.

“Some people are naturally suited to one or the other, but I think you can do it.

“You’ve always got to be positive. Obviously I haven’t played as well as I’d have liked in the majority of the winter, but you don’t become a bad player overnight so I’m looking to repay some faith.

“It’s probably the longest stint I’ve just played red-ball cricket and not broken that up with my strongest suit of T20 or one-day cricket, just to change things up.”