Buttler: I can still fulfil my Test potential
Jos Buttler is determined to prove he still belongs in test cricket even though he accepts he is running out of time to fulfil his huge potential. england’s most gifted white- ball player travels to sri lanka next week for the two-test series hoping to justify the faith shown in him after a dismal time in New Zealand and south Africa.
‘I’m very committed to test cricket,’ said Buttler yesterday. ‘It’s the best and hardest form of the game. that’s what makes it the most rewarding when you have good moments. You want to be a part of that.
‘My performances have meant the decision could have been taken out of my hands. But fortunately I’m on this tour and I’ve got great memories of sri lanka from when we last went there. I’m really looking forward to it.’
Buttler knows — for all the support he has received from national selector ed smith, captain Joe root and coach Chris silverwood — there will not be many more chances if he fails in Colombo and Galle to build on a record of only one hundred in 41 tests. ‘I’ve just made too many mistakes,’ said Buttler, 29. ‘But I’ve got massive selfbelief and a lot of it is about fulfilling my potential. I’m too old now to be picked on that potential. I haven’t got to the test level I know I can reach and that’s a big driver for me.’
Buttler, who is expected to start as england’s keeper-batsman in sri lanka ahead of the recalled Ben Foakes, has not really been himself ever since the historic moment he completed the run out last summer that won england the World Cup.
He has even admitted he would have struggled to play on had the tumultuous final at lord’s gone New Zealand’s way. Could it be he has still not fully recovered from the enormous mental effort that entailed?
‘that’s an easy assumption to make,’ he insisted. ‘A lot went into the World
Cup, not just last summer but over four years, and the realisation of it all coming together can confuse you. so you’ve got to quickly re-assess but I maintain I just haven’t played as well as I’d like.’
there is little time for england’s elite players to catch their breath in an increasingly chaotic schedule. Buttler was speaking at the london offices of the rajasthan royals, the IPl team he will represent as soon as the sri lanka series is over. It will become harder to play in all international formats, but he is adamant he wants to.
‘You have a short shelf-life so you have to make the most of it,’ he added. ‘there are times to try and pick your breaks. Being busy is not why I haven’t played well enough in test cricket.
‘Maybe in south Africa I tried too hard to counter-attack after the first test. I’ve just got to play the situation in front of me and react to it.’