BSP-05 Buttler vows to prove worth on Test stage

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Buttler vows to prove worth on Test stage

LONDON, Feb 25, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler is
adamant he can prove his worth in the Test arena after struggling to emulate
his one-day success.

Buttler has endured a torrid time in Test cricket for England recently,
managing a top score of just 43 in five matches against New Zealand and South
Africa.

The 29-year-old was still named in the England squad for the forthcoming
tour of Sri Lanka and insists he can transfer his explosive limited-overs
skill-set to the longer form of the game.

Virat Kohli, Faf Du Plessis and David Warner are among the current batsmen
who thrive with the red or white ball and Buttler, who helped England win the
World Cup last year, wants to join them.

“There’s a crop of guys who are the best in the world, and they’re the
best across all formats. They manage to do it,” Buttler said on Monday.

“You need to find breaks in your schedule – your mind is your biggest
asset so you need to have time to get that to the best place when you turn
up. That’s a big skill.

“But the best players can play all formats. You want to play all the
games, be involved in all the formats. I certainly do.

“Some people are naturally suited to one or the other, but I think you can
do it.”

Buttler will be hoping his return to form in the Twenty20 series finale
against South Africa carries over into next month’s two Tests.

The Lancashire batsman, who will play in the IPL for Rajasthan Royals this
season, hit 57 off 29 balls in the five-wicket win in Centurion as England
secured a 2-1 series victory.

Now he wants to repay the England selectors’ faith.

“You’ve always got to be positive. Obviously I haven’t played as well as
I’d have liked in the majority of the winter, but you don’t become a bad
player overnight so I’m looking to repay some faith and get back to playing
my best cricket,” he said.

“I just haven’t played quite well enough at times. I have made too many
mistakes really.

“When you’re playing well you feel like you make the right decisions a lot
of the time. You feel in a very good head space. I just feel like I haven’t
been able do that often enough.”

BSS/AFP/FI/ 0841 hrs