Jos Buttler ready to bring big-hitting IPL form to Pakistan Tests

(Photo: Getty Images)

By Adam Ellis

Jos Buttler arrives in the England Test fold full of a ‘hell of a lot of confidence’ after his hot streak with the bat playing for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL.

The Lancashire wicketkeeper was named in Ed Smith’s first Test squad as the ECB’s new national selector last week following five half-centuries in the T20 mega event and equally impressive form for England in ODIs.

Returning from India with Royals team-mate Ben Stokes, Buttler said he felt in good nick ahead of the two-Test series.

“In the IPL I played high-pressure situations against some of the best in the world. It is a brilliant state of mind. That form gives you a hell of a lot of confidence,” the 26-year-old said.

18 months on from winning his last Test cap, Buttler revealed it had been an anxious wait to pull on England whites again but that his best efforts had brought an end to that.

Asked whether he is in the form of his life, Buttler replied: “Definitely of the recent past,”

“My one-day hundred in Sydney in January was probably as good as I have played.

“You always think maybe that race is run and it will never happen again.

“It’s not that you live with regrets, but you definitely miss it. To get that call, the overriding emotion was excitement.”