It has taken 38 innings for Buttler to record his maiden Test century and it was his application, not just his ball-striking, that stood out
It was not enough to earn him the nickname of St Jude – the patron saint of lost causes – but in securing his maiden Test century and ensuring that England’s experience here has not solely been one of batting ineptitude, Jos Buttler made a significant point to himself, his teammates and perhaps the wider public, too.
After all, until it was trumped by that of Adil Rashid at the start of this series, the restoration of Buttler to the Test team by England’s new selection impresario, Ed Smith, in May was among the most eye-catching and controversial in recent memory. How could a batsman with four first-class hundreds from 128 innings and a diet consisting solely of white-ball cricket over the previous eight months leapfrog those who had spent the opening exchanges of the County Championship season dutifully negotiating the Dukes ball in devilish spring conditions?
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