BUTTLER: I WANT A TEST SPOT
Day job is not enough
JOS BUTTLER insists he has no plans to follow Adil Rashid and Alex Hales in becoming a white-ball specialist.
The England wicketkeeper-batsman wants to play Test cricket again and feels he has unfinished business in the five-day game.
The 27-year-old is one of the most destructive hitters in the game and will be a vital part of England’s World Cup bid on home soil next year.
Despite his importance to the one-day set-up, underlined by 79 in Sunday’s defeat by New Zealand, Buttler’s Test career was so far been unfulfilled.
He lost his place to Jonny Bairstow in late 2015 and has played just three times since, turning out in only five County Championship matches for Lancashire in the past three years.
However, Buttler has no intention of concentrating solely on limitedovers cricket like Rashid and Hales.
“At the minute, I’m very happy with my situation,” he said. “Yes, it does mean I still have Test ambitions.
“I haven’t played a great deal of red-ball cricket recently – whether that opportunity comes depends on performance.
“At the back-end of this year, I’ll be available for quite a lot of Championship cricket. If I’m going to get back in, that’s when I need to score runs.
“I don’t want to have too many regrets. ® from RODNEY WHITE I’m obviously very fortunate to have played Test cricket at all.
“The one thing you’d want to get out of a Test career would be winning an Ashes series in England.
“Not that I performed very well, but I’m lucky enough to have that.
“You’re always desperate to do as well as you can and fulfil your promise and potential as much as you can. But I won’t lose any sleep over it.”
Buttler, meanwhile, admitted it was great to have Ben Stokes back after the all-rounder ended his five-month absence from international cricket with two wickets in Sunday’s defeat.
He looked far from rusty on his return from suspension and Buttler hopes his influence can help England turn around the five-match series – starting in the second ODI in Mount Maunganui tomorrow.
“He brings so much to the team both on and off the field,” said Buttler.
“He always puts in performances. I’m sure, having got that one game out of the way, he’ll go from strength to strength. “He’s obviously a world-class allrounder. Then there’s his character around the group.
“His infectious personality rubs off on people – he demands the best from us. So just having him back around is a great asset to the group.”