Buttler under no pressure over Test place

ENGLAND head coach Chris Silverwood’s faith in Jos Buttler is undiminished after defeat to the West Indies in the first Test of the summer.

The England hierarchy must settle quickly into some familiar selection debates after the tourists’ four-wicket win as international cricket returns to Emirates Old Trafford this week.

The first Test at the Ageas Bowl was won and lost in two passages of England batting – an under-powered 204 in the first innings and the loss of five wickets for 30 runs on the fourth evening.

Lancs wicketkeeper

Buttler was involved in both passages and finds himself increasingly under pressure for his place along with Joe Denly – the former being squeezed by Joe Root’s return as captain and Zak Crawley’s fine 76 on Saturday.

Silverwood, though, could only offer strong reassurance to one of the duo.

Asked to explain Buttler’s diminishing contributions - a Test average of 23.22 since the start of 2019 and now only one hundred in 75 innings – Silverwood said: “I’m not going to go down that road yet of putting Jos under pressure because I don’t think it’s going to help him. First and foremost we want to give Jos the best opportunity to succeed.

“But I’m sure he is asking the same questions.

“He looked brilliant coming into this game, in practice and he looked very good in the first innings. He just needs to go and make those big scores now doesn’t he? He knows that as well.

“From our point of view it’s just making sure that he feels confident in the environment he’s in.”

Root will return and Denly is now the logical choice to stand down for Thursday’s second Test.