PAK vs ENG: Jos Buttler Unsure About His Test Return, Focusing On The 2023 World Cup

Jos Buttler, England’s white-ball captain, has stated that he is hesitant about his return to the national Test team and that he is currently enjoying the demanding task of guiding his country in ODIs and T20Is. 

Buttler led his team to the ICC T20 World Cup title last month, defeating Pakistan in the final. Buttler has amassed 2,907 runs in 57 Tests since his debut in 2014, with two centuries and 18 fifties. Buttler scored only 11 runs in both innings of the fourth Test against Australia in his most recent Test match. 

IPL 2023 | India tour of Bangladesh 2022 | Dream11 Prediction | Fantasy Cricket Tips | Cricket Match Prediction Today | Cricket News | Cricket Live Score | Sri Lanka tour of India 2023 | New Zealand tour of India 2023

I Am Really Enjoying What I Am Doing: Jos Buttler

Ben Foakes has cemented his position as England’s wicketkeeper in the Ben Stokes-led squad in the longer format. 

According to Sky Sports, upon his return to Tests, the batter stated, “We will wait and see, I do not know for the minute, to be honest.”  

“I am really enjoying what I am doing at the moment, and getting the opportunity to captain the white-ball teams has been a great challenge and really enjoyable,” he added.  

IPL 2023 Auction | IND vs BAN 2022 | India vs Bangladesh 2022 | India National Cricket Team | IND vs SL 2023 | India vs Sri Lanka 2023 | IND vs NZ 2023 | India vs New Zealand 2023

The ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, which will be held in India, is the next event on Buttler and white-ball coach Matthew Mott’s radar. 

Prior to the start of the major cricketing event, England plays a three-match series against South Africa in January, followed by two home series against New Zealand and Ireland in September. 

Jos Buttler’s Attention Turned To The 50-0ver World Cup

Jos Buttler will have 10 matches to fully construct his England squad, which must fill the shoes of Eoin Morgan and Ben Stokes, who have resigned from international and one-day international cricket, respectively. 

“The attention turns to the 50-over World Cup and trying to think ahead and planning how we tackle that tournament. We have had a couple of retirements from the side, some stalwarts in Stokes and Morgan,” said Buttler.  

“We have got to work out how we fill that hole and give guys the opportunity to take those positions up and look to build a balanced team ahead of the tournament,” he added.  

Despite his retirement from the 50-over format, Stokes has not totally closed the door. 

The all-rounder stated this ahead of the Test series against Pakistan., “Who knows how I might feel towards a World Cup at the time?”  

He also revealed that England Director of Cricket Rob Key approached him following the team’s T20 World Cup victory. 

“He pulled me to the side and as soon as he said ’50-over World Cup’ I just walked away,” said Stokes. “Who knows? At the moment, being out here (in Pakistan), my focus is solely on this series,” Stokes had said.  

Buttler, on the other hand, is taking a “wait and see” approach with Stokes, who was instrumental in England’s first-ever 50-over World Cup victory in 2019. 

“Ben, at the moment, has retired from ODI cricket and he has got lots on his plate captaining the Test team and obviously some exciting series coming up with the Ashes next year especially,” said Buttler.  

“We will just plan ahead and give guys the opportunity and things will work themselves out naturally. I think over the next six to eight months, guys will perform really well and put their hand up and try to stake a claim for those positions,” added Buttler.  

Jos Buttler Excited About Jofra Archer

Jos Buttler is ecstatic with the return of pace spearhead Jofra Archer, who returned to cricket after a long absence due to injury in a warm-up match against the England Lions last month. 

Key had expressed concern about rushing back Archer. Stokes is confident about his return to the Ashes. Buttler also stated that having Archer on the side would be excellent.

“Really excited for Jofra himself to get back to doing what he loves doing and playing cricket again. He is such a superstar of the game and we all love watching him perform,” he said.  

“He is such an X-factor player and an exciting player. For English cricket fans and for him himself to get back out there is fantastic for everyone,” added the skipper.  

Jos Buttler Hails England Test Side

The 32-year-old is full of praise for the way Stokes’ side has been playing the longer format, having won seven out of eight Test matches, including a thrilling 74-run victory over Pakistan in Rawalpindi. 

“I think every time they seem to play at the minute, people question if ‘Bazball’ will work in certain places and I thought they played brilliantly. They put a lot of pressure on Pakistan, without taking loads and loads of risk,” said Buttler.  

The white-ball captain believes that the attacking, upbeat mentality in Tests will entice more individuals to play in the lengthier format. 

“I am sure there is a big chance of that, listening to the way the coach talks, they feel that is their duty and obligation to really entertain people and show just how talented they are. Cricket has changed a lot, and the introduction of the short form and T20 cricket has brought lots of excitement,” said Buttler.  

“And they are showing that in the Test form that you can do that as well. I think certainly as kids watching this sort of thing, a really exciting brand, you want to be part of that,” signed off Buttler. 

Also Read:Ranji Trophy To Get Women Umpires Soon- Report

Virat Kohli | Rohit Sharma | Rishabh Pant | KL Rahul | Suryakumar Yadav | Sanju Samson | Shreyas Iyer | Yuzvendra Chahal | Jasprit Bumrah