Amid speculations that wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler may have had an unofficial end to his Test career, England skipper Joe Root has insisted on the contrary.
Buttler has opted out of the fourth Test against India, starting September 2, to be with his wife as they expect the birth of their second child.
Indications are that the cricketer is unlikely to play the fifth Test in Manchester as well, as he has already ruled himself out of the UAE leg of the IPL 2021, starting on September 19 – only five days after the end of the India series.
It must be remembered here that Buttler is also one of the English players who have expressed concerns and reservations about travelling to Australia for the Ashes tour later in the year.
There is reluctance within the England camp to tour Down Under without their family members and to experience excessively restrictive COVID-19 regulations, including the hard quarantine.
All this has led to conjecture that Buttler may no longer be available for selection in Test cricket. But Root doesn’t think so.
“I don’t see this being the end of Jos’ Test career at all. I see someone that is desperate to perform well in the Test arena,”
“I think he loves the Test game and he’s a big part of our team. As far as I’m concerned I hope it’s a really memorable week for him and it will be great whenever he is available to play again.”
Root was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
Buttler has played 53 Tests for England with 2,800 runs at an average of 33.33, his tally including two hundred and 18 half-centuries.
