Jos Buttler insists he has no plans to retire from Test cricket after Ashes
Wicketkeeper’s ambition is to keep playing all formats
England go into Sydney Test eager not ‘to lose 5-0’
Jos Buttler says a chastening Ashes campaign – for himself and England – has not diminished his desire to remain a three-format player in international cricket. The 31-year-old wicketkeeper-batter has long since established himself as one of the leading limited-overs players in the world but so far his tour of Australia has continued a 56-cap Test career that, while not without highlights, is yet to live up to the same billing.
Though a determined 207-ball rearguard on the final day of the second Test in Adelaide was commendable after coming in on a pair, dropped catches in that match and a rash dismissal during England’s first-innings collapse at the MCG have contributed to the 3-0 scoreline that leaves the tourists playing for pride in Sydney and Hobart.
Asked if he still wanted to pursue Test cricket given his young family, his obvious market value in the less labour-intensive shorter formats and the recent decision by South Africa’s Quinton de Kock to become a white-ball specialist, Buttler said: “It’s certainly my ambition. I don’t think I’d have put as much into it as I have done if it wasn’t.
“I have fantastic family support – they’re very supportive of me and my career, and make a lot of sacrifices for that. It’s certainly maintained my drive and ambition to try and play [Test cricket].”
Related: South Africa wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock retires from Test cricket
On De Kock, Buttler said: “That’s Quinton’s own personal situation. As a huge fan of his, I’m disappointed that he’s at that stage. I love watching him bat, keep wicket and play Test cricket. I commend him for making a decision that’s right for him. But I feel I’ve got that support and in a place where I want to try to make it work.”
As such, the next two Tests represent an important time for Buttler and a number of teammates who want to secure places on the tour of the Caribbean in March. Who will select that squad is not a given, with the position of the head coach, Chris Silverwood, under review while he isolates in Melbourne due to a Covid case in his family.
Adam Hollioake will not be able to join the setup because of a close contact testing positive but England are yet to report any cases within the camp beyond the three coaches and four family members who tested positive this week – Australia similarly cleared their latest tests after Travis Head’s diagnosis – and Buttler believes there is a determination among his teammates to put on a performance for those left behind.
He said: “One thing is we’re massively in it all together. We live it all together and we want to play well for each other. It’s frustrating for Chris he’s not here with us – another complication of the tour – but we’re certainly very united.
“There is an overriding sense of disappointment and frustration with the situation we’ve found ourselves in. We certainly don’t want to be a team to lose 5-0.”
On the off-field distraction of Covid cases, he said: “A year ago, when something like this happened, it was a much bigger shock and more of a worry. At the moment it’s still a worry and waiting for a Covid test is a bit like playing rouletteat the minute.[But] we need to be in a place where Covid doesn’t stop everything. There will be positive cases throughout the tour. We hoped that wouldn’t be the case, but we’re trying to manage it as best as possible.”
