Buttler shines in defeat’s shadow
LAWRENCE BOOTH
JOS BUTTLER admitted he thought the moment would never come after celebrating his first Test century as England extended the third Test against India into its final day.
Buttler made 106, putting on 169 in 57 overs with Ben Stokes for the fifth wicket to give his team hope that they might even save the game — only for England to close on 311 for nine.
Defeat beckons today, although Buttler — whose previous Testbest of 85 came on his debut four years ago — said he was determined to put in a defiant performance after England were bowled out in their first innings.
‘It was very important for us to show a lot of character and fight and not give it to India,’ he said. ‘We didn’t want to roll over. It was just disappointing I couldn’t make it last a bit longer.
‘The hundred was satisfying. It has been a long time coming. A few months ago it seemed like a million miles away, so it’s a huge moment for me.
‘I was never sure if I’d ever play Test cricket again. Those thoughts go through your head while you’re out there and start to get close. There were times when I thought that race was run.’
Asked how a Test hundred compared with the six centuries he has made in one-day internationals, Buttler said: ‘A lot more fulfilment. It’s been a longer time coming. A hundred in any red-ball game means a lot, and proves to me I can do it. It’s definitely the proudest moment in an England shirt.’
Buttler hadn’t scored a red-ball century since June 2014, when he made 100 not out for Lancashire, but there will now be calls to promote him up England’s order, especially with Jonny Bairstow’s participation in the last two Tests in doubt because of his broken finger.
One possibility would be for Buttler to swap places with Ollie Pope, although England may be reluctant to push him up the order if Bairstow’s injury means Buttler will have to keep wicket.
Meanwhile, Stuart Broad has been fined 15 per cent of his match fee for verbally abusing Rishabh Pant after dismissing him in the first innings.
An ICC statement said that Broad had ‘walked towards the batsman and spoke in an aggressive manner, which had the potential to provoke an aggressive reaction’.