Buttler: I didn’t feel part of squad
JOS Buttler is widely regarded as one of England’s greatest limited-overs cricketers, but he admits he struggled with imposter syndrome when he first burst on to the international scene.
A key part of the 2019 World Cup win, the Lancashire wicketkeeper holds the record for the fastest ton made by an England batsman - 46 balls against Pakistan in November 2015.
However, he admits ahead of his international bow in a Twenty20 against India he felt daunted at being in close proximity to established stars.
“I certainly had anxieties and that nervous feeling when I was starting out,” he said.
“I remember my T20 debut really well and walking into a dressing room with Graeme Swann, Kevin Pietersen and Stuart Broad was the captain – these guys who I have been watching on TV for years.
“Then suddenly, you’re in the same dressing room and I felt a bit out of place, like you shouldn’t really be here, I’m not on these guys’ level. It certainly took me some time to get going into international cricket.”
Buttler completed the run out which gave England their historic World Cup triumph 18 months ago.
He initially thought lifting the trophy would give him a fresh perspective on his cricketing career but has found that what is a career-defining moment for most individuals has actually not altered his own mindset.
He said: “I think I was probably quite naive. In the sense that having achieved that thing I could ‘free wheel’ the rest of my career and never have another worry about cricket ever again.
“But then, as sure as eggs are eggs, the next match, I still have the same anxieties over things.
“And just because you’re a World Cup winner doesn’t mean you walk on water and you don’t care anymore, you don’t get those nervous feelings.”