England wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler delivered his career’s one of the best knocks on the fourth day of the first Test match against Pakistan. His 75 runs innings will surely overshadow the miserable mistakes he made with the gloves during the match. England captain Joe Root also believes that Buttler’s game-changing knock will give him confidence and a fresh start.
The visitors Pakistan were predicted to be the winner after giving 227 runs which is considered to be the tough chase at the pitch like Old Trafford. But Chris Woakes and Jos Buttler emerged as the stars who made impossible possible.
In the second session, England was struggling at 117 for five, losing their crucial player Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope. Pakistani bowlers need only five wickets but Buttler made that task difficult for them.
Buttler produced a brilliant 75 on day four and stitched a 139-runs partnership with man-of-the-match Chris Woakes for the sixth wicket, guiding his team to unbelievable victory. Although Buttler had a forgettable keeping, dropping two catches, including centurion Shan Masson and missing stumping, he had again rebuild the trust with his bat.
But, Root has never doubted his teammate’s capability. He knows that Jos Buttler has many times delivered such knocks and it was round the corner that he got the opportunity to deliver that again.
“It felt like a matter of time, I’ve said on a few occasions it’s been coming for quite a while,” he said of Buttler’s counter-attacking masterclass.
“There are times where he’s been very selfless, played the situation and done what’s right for the team. He did exactly that again here but for a longer period and got us into a position to win the game. That is really exciting for the team and for him as an individual.
That innings will build confidence in Jos Buttler: Joe Root
Jos Buttler was well aware that if he again registered a low score, he will be shown outer doors. Root, who trusts the keeper, said that the Old Trafford’s performance would instil confidence in him and would motivate him to move forward in the series.
“I think it will provide him with a huge amount of confidence in all aspects of his game and he should take that forward for the rest of the series. He can really use that as a platform to go to another level,” Joe Root said.
“It’s infectious when you’re an all-rounder. Look at someone like Ben Stokes, if he doesn’t perform with the ball he can come out and score you a hundred. That’s what all-rounders do and it’s what Jos has done this week. He might not have performed with the gloves but he’s ensured we got across the line with a brilliant batting performance,” he added.
“That’s the way he should look at it and take that confidence forward to the rest of the series,” he maintained.
Meanwhile, the second Test will be played in Southampton from 18th August.