Jos Buttler is enjoying scoring runs for England in Test cricket again after admitting he never thought he would return to the side this winter.

Buttler’s 76 – his first half-century since coming back into the team following a year-long absence - helped England post 400 in their first innings and take control of this fourth Test at the Wankhede Stadium.

However, a 107-run stand between Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara helped India close the second day on 146 for one to keep this Test in the balance.

Given Alastair Cook’s side are 2-0 down, nothing but a win here in Mumbai will do if they are to keep this series alive going into the Fifth and final Test at Chennai next week.

But Buttler, recalled to England’s team for the previous Test against India at Mohali after being dropped during the Pakistan series in the UAE last winter, is just glad to be back after fearing he would not return at all this winter.

“I always thought I’d get a chance,” he said. “But whether it would be as soon as this, I wasn’t sure. I was fully aware and probably expecting not to play a game in Bangladesh or here in India. Then when you do play, it’s quite a nice feeling.



“It’s very pleasing and really satisfying to get runs when you feel like the team needs them. I really enjoyed getting us up to what we feel is a good score to have on the board. It was against quality bowlers, in their conditions.”

Buttler is one of the most destructive limited-overs players in the world, but before returning to the team in Mohali he had played just one first-class match since being dropped for the final Test against Pakistan in Sharjah last November.

That lack of red-ball experience, many said, was the reason why the 26-year-old should not return to Test cricket. Yet Buttler believes his lack of first-class action over the past 12 months has actually been of benefit. “I don’t feel like it mattered to me at all,” he said. “Probably the best thing for me is having not played any [red-ball] cricket for a year, and having some time to think about my game.

“We play so much cricket that sometimes there isn’t enough time to think, break down your game and work out what is vital to me to get the best out of myself. I feel like the last year I’ve probably learned the most about myself and about cricket in my whole career.”

Having experienced IPL, you get used to the noise and chaos going on around you – and you learn to deal with it and not get distracted. <p>Jos Buttler</p>

Part of the reason why Buttler has missed so much first-class cricket recently is because he has concentrated so much on the limited-overs formats.

Indeed, Buttler was the biggest English name to take part in this year’s Indian Premier League, playing here at the Wankhede Stadium for Mumbai Indians.

“It probably helps, having practised and played here,” he said. “Having experienced IPL, you get used to the noise and chaos going on around you – and you learn to deal with it and not get distracted. I think familiarity is good, and definitely helps.”