Jos Buttler addresses rumours surrounding possible return to Test cricket

GEORGE DOBELL: Speaking at an event for the MLB World Tour: London Series, Buttler said cricket could learn from American sports when it comes to fan engagement

Jos Buttler has revealed he has "no real ambitions" to return to Test cricket and suggested "the kids on TikTok and Instagram aren't watching" it.

Buttler, England's limited-overs captain, admits the environment created by Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes around England Test set-up looks "really attractive". But, on the brink of a new IPL season and with a T20 World Cup to follow it, Buttler says he is "fully focused on white-ball cricket".

"I've no real [Test] ambitions at the minute," said Buttler, while appearing at The 108 for a baseball masterclass ahead of the MLB World Tour: London Series. "I am just really fully focused on white-ball cricket and all the stuff I am doing there, captaining England in that format.

"You never say never to anything, but I've had no communication with anyone to talk about red-ball cricket."

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^{Buttler and former MLB star Chase Utley at an event ahead of the MLB London Series [MLB Europe/Getty Images]}

^{Buttler has "no real ambitions" to return to Test cricket [Mark Kolbe/Getty Images]}

Although Buttler has struggled to replicate his outstanding limited-overs returns in Test cricket, there has been some speculation that, in the ultra positive environment engendered by McCullum, he could be coaxed into a return.

But, attempting to explain the differences in formats to Chase Utley, the former MLB star, Buttler suggested fewer young people were watching Test cricket and suggested the sport could learn from baseball and American football when it came to marketing.

"Test cricket is very traditional and it started with that as the only format," he said. "It has 150 years of history behind it and tradition. T20 cricket only started in 2003, so people who love all the history and records [perfer it], but I'll tell you what: the kids on TikTok and Instagram aren't watching Test cricket.

"Cricket could absolutely learn from American sports. The Superbowl is obviously huge but when you have Jay-Z or whoever performing at half-time and it brings eyeballs which can be an introduction to the sport. If someone is introduced to the sport by seeing world stars in music, then they might really enjoy watching the game as well and I think that is something cricket could do really well.

"I hope that T20 and The Hundred is the way they can then learn to love Test cricket. If they love The Hundred and are say 'I really enjoyed watching Ben Stokes' and then mum or dad says 'well, you can see him for four or five days if you want in Test Cricket' that can be the great introduction for the younger generation into Test cricket."

New York Mets will play Philadelphia Phillies in the MLB World Tour: London Series 2024 on June 8-9 at London Stadium. Tickets are on sale now at ticketmaster.co.uk/MLB

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