England’s Root backs Buttler as first-choice wicketkeeper
As Joe Root prepares to kick off a bumper 2021 for Engl i s h c r ic ket h e h a s made it clear there is nobody he would rather have behind the stumps than Jos Buttler.
England’s Test squad departed for Sri Lanka on Saturday after a fully clear round of Covid-19 screening and once a mandatory fortnight of quarantine and acclimatisation is ticked off in Hambantota, it is straight into a pair of Test matches in Galle.
It was that very ground where Ben Foakes made his international debut in 2018, taming the turning track to post an accomplished century in his first Test innings followed by a rapid 37 to help set up a declaration.
The Surrey man was equally impressive with the gloves, marking his intro - duction with two catches, a stumping and a run out, before going on to win both p l aye r s o f t h e m at c h a n d player of the series.
If there was ever a place Fo a k e s m i g ht f a n c y h i s chances of adding to his five caps, then, it is in the shado w s o f t h e c i t y ’s f a m o u s Dutch fort. Yet as far as Root is concerned, there is simply no vacancy.
Buttl e r p l aye d s o m e o f his best cricket in England whites in the team’s previous series against Pakistan, with a nerveless 75 helping reel in a seemingly doomed chase at Emirates Old Trafford followed by a wonderful 152 at the Ageas Bowl.
“When it comes to the selections of the teams, we’ll look at the conditions, consider everything and make a call when we’re out there,” said Root.
“What I will say is we’ve got Jos Buttler coming off the back of a 150 and in probably some of the best form you’ve seen him in in Test c r i c ket . A s f a r a s I ’m c o ncerned, it will have to be a really unique situation for that to change.
“Jos, as a senior member of the squad in great form, was an integral part of our success in the back end of the summer. I’m really excited for him to carry that form forward.”
There was some succour for Foakes, who can certainly consider himself highly unfortunate not to have had a l e n g t h i e r i n i t i a l s t ay i n the XI. National selector Ed
Smith has already suggested there will be rest periods during the India tour, which follows immediately on from Sri Lanka, and an all-format player like Buttler stands at the head of that queue.