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Buttler in possession as England prepare to take the field


Bangladeshpost
Published : 01 Jul 2020 07:53 PM | Updated : 07 Sep 2020 09:49 AM

Jos Buttler is set to retain his place in England's Test team for the start of the series against West Indies, reports ESPNCricinfo.

While Buttler has endured a lean run of form with the bat in recent Tests - he has averaged 23.32 in 13 Tests since the start of 2019 and 17.55 in five Tests since the end of the last English season - he retains the faith of the team management and is poised to keep the gloves ahead of competition from Jonny Bairstow and Ben Foakes.

Underlining that faith, Buttler has been confirmed as one of the team captains in England's warm-up match, starting on Wednesday, and as England's vice-captain in the first Test against West Indies next week. 

England's regular Test vice-captain, Ben Stokes, has been promoted to the captaincy in the absence of Joe Root, on paternity leave, and Buttler is taking on Stokes' previous role. England hope to have Root back for the second Test.

The three-day warm-up match will feature 27 players - there are 14 on Buttler's side and 13 on Stokes' - so will not have first-class status. The only three players from the 30-man training squad not taking part are Amar Virdi, Jamie Overton and Root. 

All three are understood to be fit, but Root is leaving the squad on Wednesday to attend the birth of his second child and the team management have decided that, in order for key players to gain the match practice required, there is no room for the other two. 

Although England's head coach, Chris Silverwood, was giving little away when he spoke to the media on Tuesday afternoon, he did confirm Buttler's inclusion and hinted that, in general, those players "in possession" of places at the end of the South Africa tour might be in favourable positions. 

With the Sri Lanka tour subsequently postponed and the English domestic season curtailed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, none of the players involved have played since the South Africa tour finished.