England limited-overs wicket-keeper batsman Jos Buttler is hopeful of making a comeback in the Test squad for the Ashes later in the year. Buttler was part of each of the 5 Tests in the 2016 Ashes in England which the home team won by a 3-2 margin but it has been a long time that Buttler hasn’t been part of the Test squad. He last played a Test match against India in December 2015.
The swashbuckling batsman is a front-runner to be a backup wicketkeeper to Jonny Bairstow but former English cricketers David Gower, Sir Ian Botham and Nasser Hussain have chosen Ben Foakes ahead of the more experienced campaigner.
“I was a child of the 2005 Ashes and I think that is still the best series of cricket ever,” said Buttler before the commencement of the 5 match ODI series against the Windies.
“Having been part of an Ashes series in 2015, for any English or Australian player you know that’s what it’s all about and the Ashes is still the main thing.
“You want to be involved with England all the time, it’s something incredibly special to be a part of and when you’re not involved you know what you’re missing out on. Everybody’s ambition should be to play for England in all three formats.”
Buttler has 4 County Championship matches this season for Lancashire scoring just 103 runs with the highest score of 49.
“Whatever format you play in you need to be scoring runs,” said Buttler. “In an ideal world I’d like to be doing that but unfortunately it hasn’t happened for me. I have known my own game in one-day cricket for a number of years but in red-ball cricket it is still frustratingly something I’m trying to work out.
“One of the skills of modern cricketers is that you have to be able to cross formats. You can’t use it as an excuse that you haven’t had the time or a run of games. You have to be able to adapt at the switch of a button.”
Buttler conceded that given so much cricket all around the world he would prefer playing any T20 tournaments if ECB doesn’t include him in the squad for the Ashes.
“There is so much cricket going on worldwide now and a lot of exciting cricket you can be a part of,” he added. “There is no point sitting at home worrying about why you don’t get picked or feeling sorry for yourself.
“Cricket is sometimes a win-win situation these days. You’re disappointed to miss out on one tour but there are opportunities elsewhere.”