Match-winning Buttler feared he had played last Test
ENGLAND wicketkeeper Jos Buttler thought he may have played his last Test before he atoned for a poor display with the gloves by starring with the bat in a three-wicket win over Pakistan at Old Trafford.
England had slumped to 5-117 chasing a stiff target of 277 on Saturday’s fourth day.
But a sixth-wicket stand of 139 between Buttler, who made 75 on his Lancashire home ground, and Chris Woakes, 84 not out, turned the tide.
England, however, might not have been chasing so many had Buttler, whose Test-match keeping has long been a hot topic, not dropped Shan Masood and then missed a chance to stump him when the opener was on 45 during Pakistan’s first innings.
Masood went on to make a Test-best 156 to help Pakistan establish a lead of more than 100 runs.
“I’m quite proud. If I take those chances, we’d have won two hours ago,” Buttler said.
“I’m very aware I didn’t keep well. I missed some chances and at this level you can’t afford to do that, no matter how many runs you score.
“Thoughts go through your head that if I don’t score any runs, I have maybe played my last game. But you have to shut those out and go and play your game.”
England captain Joe Root, a longstanding defender of Buttler’s place in the Test side, was delighted to see him play a key innings in difficult circumstances.
“It says a huge amount about him as a person to carry all of that and be able to either use it, or park it,” Root said.
“It shows how mentally strong he is more than anything, but also how skilful.
“One of Jos’s big traits is when he’s under pressure he puts in big performances.
“He can deal with high pressure.”