Jos Buttler has shot down the suggestion of him opening the batting in Test cricket.
Buttler, one of the most aggressive white-ball batters of the era, has been appointed England’s ODI and T20I captain following the retirement of Eoin Morgan.
The 31-year-old lost his place as England’s Test wicketkeeper after a difficult 2021/22 Ashes, accumulating 107 runs from eight innings at an average of 15.28 with a high score of 39. He has been overlooked since then in the format, missing the tour of West Indies and the home series against New Zealand and India.
However, Kumar Sangakkara recently commented that Buttler could be an option at the top of the order for England.
Speaking during the fifth England-India Test at Edgbaston on Test Match Special, Buttler said: “I thought someone had written the wrong story, to be honest [on reading about opening in red-ball cricket]. I don’t think there’s much merit in that. It is from Kumar, I think – maybe [he’s] just plugging some Rajasthan Royals opening or something like that.
“It’s been fantastic to watch the Test team over the last few weeks. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed tuning in as a fan, it’s been incredible to watch. I’ve loved watching them, and I’m hope it continues.”
