It Has Been A Privilege To Watch Jos Buttler Go About His Business: Ben Foakes

England Test wicketkeeper-batsman Ben Foakes has hailed his fellow stumper, Jos Buttler, as one of the best in world cricket, adding that it has been a privilege for him to watch the Lancashire wicketkeeper-batsman go about his business from close quarters.

Jos Buttler has been in the form of his life in the longest format of the game since the 2020 home summer where he played a match-winning knock against Pakistan before going on to rack up his 2nd Test hundred.

Buttler was brilliant with both bats as well as behind the stumps in the recently-concluded two-match series in Sri Lanka. He played crucial knocks while batting in the middle-order but it was his keeping on turners that drew a lot of appreciation from fans and pundits alike.

“I have spent a lot of time in sub-continent conditions, I played in Sri Lanka a couple of years ago. I feel like I know the challenges that would be in store. Jos Buttler is one of the best going around, it has been a privilege to watch him go about his business,” Ben Foakes said in a virtual press conference on Sunday.

Jos Buttler will be heading home after the first Test against India in Chennai as part of England’s plan to rotate the squad in the wake of mental health concerns due to stringent bio-bubble and a grueling 2021 schedule.

Buttler’s absence will pave way for Ben Foakes to return to the Test team after a gap of nearly two years (he last played a Test against the West Indies in early 2019) for the next three Tests.

“It has an unusual position, I found it ten days ago that Jos would head back after the first Test, I earlier thought that I was in line to play the last two Tests, but it was about trying to get my head around training, so yeah one more Test potentially. It is about trying to prepare as well as I can,” Foakes said.

Foakes made his Test debut against Sri Lanka in late 2018 and he was instrumental in the visitors scripting a historic 3-0 whitewash of the island nation. His wicketkeeping against spin on raging turners is hailed as one of the best in the country. He is competing for the elusive wicketkeeper’s slot in the English Test team, but for Foakes, it’s all about working together and passing on the learnings and experiences to each other.

“I think at a specialist position like a keeper, you have to work together a bit and learn and pass on your experiences to help each other along. You want everyone to do well and succeed for England,” said Foakes.

Also Read: Virat Kohli Will Be Hungry To Lead And Play Well: Jos Buttler