Schedule needs to be looked at: Buttler

JOS Buttler has suggested England’s unforgiving schedule might need to be addressed as he prepares to help banish the recent Test hangover with some T20 fireworks against Sri Lanka.

England have adopted a policy of proactive workload management this year, pulling several key men out of the firing line during their eight Test matches to date and leaving captain Joe Root with a weakened side.

Buttler has missed five in a row since playing his part in a famous win in Chennai, partly due to his own Indian Premier League deal, but is back to lead from the front as the white-ball formats take over for the next few weeks.

The ECB has faced plenty of scrutiny over a seemingly inflexible rotation policy but points out that protecting the players’ mental and physical well-being remains paramount.

An alternative solution would be to ease the demands of the busiest fixture list in international cricket, which this year follows a packed summer schedule with trips to Pakistan and Bangladesh, a T20 World Cup and then the small matter of an away Ashes.

Asked if England simply play too much cricket, Buttler - who has just spent a spell in Vitality Blast action with Lancashire – said: “We play a hell of a lot. I don’t think there’s any perfect answers.

“I think in England we’re playing a lot of cricket, more than most. And there’s a lot of cricket left this year and some big cricket to come up. I think it’s important for everyone to be looked after really well and I think the ECB does a good job of that.

“I know there’s been some criticism from outside (about rest and rotation), but I think it’s a day and age where we’ve got to look after people and applaud that the guys are trying to be forward thinking and look after people.

“Is it perfect? No, of course it’s not, but I’d rather we look after our guys.”