As per reports in the daily Telegraph, England keeper batsman Jost Buttler is set to miss the remainder of IPL 2018 due to expected inclusion in the England Test squad for the upcoming series against Pakistan.
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Jos Buttler is expected to be rewarded for his consistent IPL performances. Buttler has notched up consecutive fifties in the IPL to keep RR in the hunt. These include two match-winning 90s in which Buttler batted all the way through to chase down the target set by the opposition.
Buttler back for England https://t.co/1v7CKDnG7Q
— Nick Hoult (@NHoultCricket) May 15, 2018
The England squad for the Pakistan Test series is scheduled to be announced on Tuesday. The announcement will be made after the meeting of the new chief selector Ed Smith with national head Trevor Bayliss, fellow selectors Mick Newell and Angus Fraserand the English Test Captain Joe Root.
With 509 runs in 12 matches, Buttler is currently the leading run scorer for RR. He has scored at an impressive average of over 50 and has smashed 5 fifties on the trot. In the last two matches, he has been stranded in the 90s and failed to reach the three digit magical figures.
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This would practically mean the keeper would miss RR’s next game against RCB on May 19 and the following games thereof. Other English players who can accompany Buttler on the flight are Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali.
The question isn’t how can u pick Jos Buttler in the test team but how can’t u ? #buttler
— Rob Key (@robkey612) May 13, 2018
This comes as huge boost for RCB who would be eager to win both their upcoming 2 games to give themselves a shot at the Playoffs. Half of Rajasthan’s arsenal would be sunk if Buttler becomes unavailable.
If Buttler is a given a nod, he would return to the Test side after 18 months. With Keeper Jonny Bairstow already in the team, Buttler is expected to bat at No 7 with Bairstow at 6.
