England wicket-keeper batsman Jos Buttler was a part of the England side taking on India in the first three Test matches at Nottingham, Lord’s and Leeds had opted out of the fourth Test at The Oval to be with his wife for the birth of his second child.
In the right-hand batsman’s absence, Jonny Bairstow took the gloves and performed admirably well.
Jos Buttler welcomed a baby girl on Thursday and the 30-year-old is all set to be back in the whites for the final Test between England and India at Old Trafford in Manchester.
There were a lot of speculations regarding Buttler’s Test career being over and his England future would consist of white-ball cricket only.
But skipper Joe Root in his recent virtual press conference, made it clear that the wicket-keeper batsman’s Test career is far from being over and the right-hand batsman still remains an integral part of England’s Test setup.
“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 in a virtual press conference.
Also, Buttler’s return will give England a selection headache ahead of the fifth and the final Test match of the series, there were reports in Daily Mail the Englishman not making the final playing XI.
“In Buttler's absence Ollie Pope returned and hit 81, his highest Test score for 18 innings. Bairstow is back where he feels he belongs: behind the stumps and batting at No 6. The other possibility is that Buttler does not make the final XI, having averaged just 14 in the first three Tests against India, with a top score of 25,” it said.
With fast bowler Saqib Mahmood doubtful to make it into the squad owing to him pulling up with an apparent side strain playing for Lancashire, it will be interesting to see the squad hosts decide to go with for the fifth and final Test at Manchester.
(IANS inputs)
