Sri Lankan batting legend Kumar Sangakkara has advocated for Jos Buttler’s inclusion in the England Test team as an opener.  

Notably, Buttler has been axed from the England Test side following the Ashes 2021-22 debacle. However, he has been in terrific form in white-ball cricket lately.

Playing for Rajasthan Royals, the right-hander finished the IPL 2022 season as the highest run-getter with 863 runs while he registered scores of 162* and 86* in the recently held three-ODI series against Netherlands.

“Buttler. I would open with Buttler rather than playing at 6 or 7. Sehwag, Hayden successfully opened, then why not Buttler?” Sangakkara said during commentary on Sky Sports on the fourth day’s play of the ongoing third Test between England and New Zealand Headingley.

Terming Ben Foakes as the “world’s best wicketkeeper”, Sangakkara made it clear that he would love to see the former continue playing Test cricket for England.

When co-commentator Nasser Hussain argued that Jason Roy was also an aggressive opener but failed to counter the moving ball in Tests, Sangakkara said it’s a problem for all openers and something they need to work on.

According to him, Buttler would be a perfect fit under the current England team management featuring Ben Stokes as skipper and Brendon McCullum as head coach.

During the IPL 2022 season, Kumar Sangakkara observed Jos Buttler from close quarters as he was associated with the Rajasthan Royals franchise as director of cricket.

“I can’t recall anyone batting this well in IPL history,” Sangakkara said in praise of Buttler.

Jos Buttler has played 57 Tests so far, scoring 2907 runs at an average of 31.94 with two centuries and 18 fifties.

(With The Indian Express Inputs)