Buttler ready to combat Bumrah again

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England’s Jos Buttler is looking forward to the challenge of facing Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah during the fourth Test, which will start at the Rose Bowl in Southampton on Thursday.

Bumrah took seven key wickets in the third Test, which India won to reduce England’s series lead to two-one despite a fine century from Buttler.

“Jasprit came into the India side at Trent Bridge and his quirky action does give you something different to think about,” Buttler wrote in his SkySports blog.

“His release points are a bit different but India have a lot of variety in their attack – Ishant Sharma has the height, Mohammed Shami has different angles, too. It’s a tough attack to come up against.

Buttler might be named wicketkeeper-batsman for the penultimate Test, as the talented Jonny Bairstow is nursing a finger injury – and might play as a specialist batsman. Buttler is England’s preferred limited-overs wicketkeeper.

“Jonny seems okay. He has had a good bat in the nets and is desperate to play. He has been in fantastic form for a number of years and everyone is hopeful he will be fit,” he added.

“I very much felt like a substitute when I took over wicketkeeping duties from Jonny in the last Test – I had shine marks on my whites and they were a bit muddy, too.

“It took a little while to get used to taking balls with the gloves on, so if I am asked to keep wicket in Southampton it will just be about catching a few and making sure I am prepared for the job.”

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