ENG VS IND 2018: Jos Buttler Hopeful to Deliver Big as Massive Series Beckons

England wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler has been the backbone of the English team in the recent past especially in the white-ball format. However, his performances against Pakistan in the two-match Test series was so impressive that he might have already cemented his place in the longest format.

Bold Buttler scored three half-centuries in three innings respectively. There is no doubt about the fact that he is one of the key players for England. The opening match of the five-match series begins on 1^st August in Birmingham.

Buttler has been in superb form and has been scoring tons of runs in all formats of the game.

“Reinforcing the enjoyment factor and the incredible opportunity it is to play Test cricket,” Cricbuzz quoted Buttler as saying.

 

“Because those two games [against Pakistan], I wasn’t sure how it would go but I approached it in a great manner and that’s important for me to do that going into this series,” he said.

Buttler will be up for a great challenge against the Virat Kohli-led India. They are currently the No. 1 Test team in the world and will definitely pose a serious challenge on the hosts. India lost the Test series in South Africa. However, they fought pretty hard and won the final Test in Johannesburg.

It will be a huge series says, Jos Buttler 

“It’s a huge series. India are a fantastic team and are in all conditions now. Australia is a huge series for England but India aren’t far behind,” Buttler said.

 

“We all know the force of nature that is Indian cricket. They are always highly talented guys and a highly competitive team and of all the countries we play against, they have the biggest following and cricket is as much a religion there as anywhere in the world. An incredibly tough challenge,” he added.

Jos Buttler agreed to Kohli’s words that the series is expected to be played in great spirits citing Indian Premier League as the reason behind close the relationship of rival players. 

“There are a few guys I’ve played well and have friendships with. On the field, it seems to be forgotten and everyone is very competitive. There’s familiar faces, guys who you know a bit more about than just the cricketer. That’s one of the great things about world cricket now,” he asserted.

 

“You get these opportunities to play all around the world and you get to meet some great people. There’s a lot more familiarity between the sides that there ever has been before,” Buttler said.

“Moeen played with Virat at RCB and Chahal, I saw them getting on quite well. I’ve played with Hardik Pandya myself at Mumbai. I’m sure there will be moments during the series on the field where those things will be forgotten. It will be highly competitive. People can get on well, know people well but international sport and the reason guys have got there is that they want to win so it’ll be no different,” he concluded.