Jos Buttler delivers at end of trying summer: "I've just found it hard all series"

SAM MORSHEAD AT THE OVAL: England reached the close on Thursday on 271 for 8, thanks largely to Buttler's swashbuckling, unbeaten half-century and a partnership of 45 with his great friend Jack Leach

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England's hopes of a score of any substance in their first innings at The Oval rely on Jos Buttler, who admitted after play on day one of the final Ashes Test that he has been struggling for much of the series with bat in hand.

The home side reached the close on Thursday on 271 for 8, thanks largely to Buttler's swashbuckling, unbeaten half-century and a partnership of 45 for the ninth wicket with his great friend Jack Leach.

The pair will return to the crease on Friday knowing that plenty of work still needs to be done on a flat and true wicket if England are going to challenge Australia's talisman Steve Smith later in the game, but they will be mightily encouraged by Buttler.

The Lancashire batsman has not enjoyed the most productive of summers - his 64 here lifted his series haul to just 194 runs - but there were signs at The Oval that he was hitting himself back into form.

Two imperious sixes were launched back over Josh Hazlewood's head, and the same bowler was merrily hooked over deep square leg during Buttler's entertaining stand Leach.

^{Jos Buttler made an unbeaten 64 on day one at The Oval}

England's No.6 might not be right on top of his game, but this innings will have done no him no harm.

"I’ve just found it hard all series," he said afterwards.

"They have an excellent attack, I just don’t think I’ve played very well. I haven’t really got in. The period at the start of your innings is always tough and against a very good attack you have to be on it straight away, and they challenge you straight away.

"I haven’t quite been good enough to get through those periods. In the last couple of games I haven’t necessarily felt great at the crease but I’ve tried to scrap my way through it.

"The new ball was about 10 or 12 overs away and I thought that would be the hardest time to try to attack. With the bowlers having bowled a lot it felt like the best time to score some runs and find a bit more enjoyment in my batting as well."

Buttler and Leach have known each other for years and grew up together in the Somerset youth ranks.

"I didn’t bat with him much back then. It was good fun," said Buttler. "I enjoyed it, especially with him at the other end."

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England had been in a position of some strength at lunch, with 86 on the scoreboard for the loss of Joe Denly, thanks both to three dropped catches by the Aussies and a resolute display at the top of the order from Rory Burns.

Burns made 47 before skewing a catch to midwicket, another fine effort at the end of a series which has proven he has the gumption to cut it at the elite level.

"He’s played brilliantly," Buttler said, when asked to reflect on his teammate's performance.

"One of the big things that impressed me straight away with Rory when I first came across him was that he acted like an international cricketer.

"He didn’t quite have the results early on but he handled it brilliantly. You guys (the media) put quite a lot of pressure on him coming into this series but he’s stood up and handled it brilliantly. I think that shows the character he’s got.

"He’s got a huge amount of skill, and he’s been the standout opening batsman in county cricket for a number of years.

"He’s earned his chance and as much as the runs he’s got, the character he’s showed has stood him brilliantly throughout the series. Opening the batting in England is probably the hardest job you can do in Test cricket today. He’s had a fantastic series."