Jos Buttler: "I've nothing to lose with the bat or the gloves"

Buttler reprises the wicketkeeper's role for his country in New Zealand this winter, four years after his previous stint with the gloves, following the selectors' decision to drop Jonny Bairstow

Jos Buttler is taking a "nothing to lose" approach to his return to Test wicketkeeping.

Buttler reprises the role for his country in New Zealand this winter, four years after his previous regular stint with the gloves, following the selectors' decision to drop Jonny Bairstow.

The Lancashire star looked in good nick during England's final warm-up match prior to the start of a two-Test series against the Blackcaps, taking a pair of smart catches during a draw with New Zealand A at Cobham Oval this week, to go with a fine 110 with the bat - only his sixth first-class century.

The main event is due to begin on Thursday and, after a manic 2019, Buttler is feeling refreshed.

“I’ve nothing to lose with the bat or the gloves,” said Buttler.

^{Jos Buttler will keep for England against New Zealand} 

“It’s a great time to be involved with a new head coach [Chris Silverwood]. It’s a new challenge and I’m going to throw myself into it.

“It was a tough summer - physically and emotionally - great fun, a huge challenge and one you look back on with real fondness. But it took a lot out of most of us. The time we have had off has been invaluable.”

Buttler revealed that time spent in the nets with former England stalwart and his old Somerset teammate Marcus Trescothick proved useful in the month or so between the end of the English season and the start of the New Zealand trip.

“I enjoyed working with (Trescothick) in the summer. I spoke to him about doing a few sessions, which I thought was brilliant, I really enjoyed that and got a lot out of it,” Buttler said.

“It gave me some building blocks to coming here and feeling in good touch.

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“There were a few technical tweaks, just a few things that creep into your game, which you try and eradicate – more around my set-up really, just trying to be in the right place at the right time, when the ball’s released.

“We spoke a lot about the game-plan as well. There’s so many different techniques, I don’t think there is a right technique, but the guys that do seem to score runs more consistently, they read the game really well and have good gameplans.

“I’ve never really seen red-ball cricket as easy as coming in and playing really attacking. I’ve never really convinced myself to do that. And I don’t want to pigeon hole myself to play one way.

“Since I’ve come back in (to the Test side last year) I’ve faced quite a lot of balls and that’s trusting my defence which has been a big part of trying to improve myself as a red-ball player.”

As for retaining the wicketkeeper's gloves long-term, Buttler was diplomatic. 

He said: “There are some fantastic keepers in England so it’s a really competitive role which means everyone pushes you on. But I’ve nothing to lose so I’m looking to work hard and enjoy it.”

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