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Jos Buttler on his ‘proudest moment in an England shirt’

by Wisden Staff 5 minute read

Jos Buttler has described his maiden Test hundred at Trent Bridge as his “proudest moment” and admits he’s relieved to have overcome a “mental hurdle”.

The England lower-order batsman has also heaped praise on “shining example” James Anderson and provided an update on the fitness of wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow.

“It was a fantastic feeling, pure elation, to score a hundred for England in a Test match,” Buttler wrote in his Sky Sports blog. “There was a bit of relief in there as well to finally achieve it.

Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes wait for drinks during day four of the third Test

“It was a special moment for me personally and just disappointing that it came in a losing cause. It was my proudest moment in an England shirt because I hold Test cricket in really high regard.”

The Lancashire player is delighted to have proved to himself that he is capable of adjusting his game for the five-day format, having previously been labelled a limited overs specialist.

“To come back into Test cricket and prove to myself that I have got the game to do well and score hundreds was extremely pleasing.

Jos Buttler hits a six during day two of the third Test match between England and India

“It is a nice mental hurdle to overcome knowing that I have a hundred and a clear idea of how I achieved it – it’s no longer nagging away at me that I don’t have a Test century.

“It was nice to show that I can trust my defence, trust my judgment and not just go crash, bang, wallop. If we need a hundred off 100 balls or 10 off 100 balls, I’d like to think I can play accordingly. A key part of my game-plan was to leave the ball well.”

Jonny Bairstow was in a lot of pain as he left the field at Trent Bridge

The swashbuckling batsman also provided an update on the fitness of Jonny Bairstow, whom Buttler replaced with the gloves when the Yorkshireman succumbed to a finger injury, but stopped short of confirming Bairstow was fit to keep wicket in the fourth Test at the Ageas Bowl.

“Looking ahead to this Test and Jonny Bairstow seems okay,” Buttler wrote. “He has had a good bat in the nets and is desperate to play. He has been in fantastic form for a number of years and everyone is hopeful he will be fit.”

James Anderson is closing in on Glenn McGrath’s record of most Test wickets for a seamer

James Anderson could overtake Glenn McGrath as the highest wicket-taker among seamers in Tests during the fourth Test, with the England swinger requiring just seven scalps to overtake the Australian hero, and Buttler says it’s a privilege to take the field with a legend of the game.

“Jimmy is a shining example to everyone – his skill levels, his work ethic, his competitiveness,” Buttler added. “It’s an honour for us to be in the same team as him.”

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