Jos Buttler: England captain hungry to return after 'frustrating' injury, backs 'fearless' Liam Livingstone in WI series
Published 30/10/2024 at 13:25 GMT
Jos Buttler's ongoing calf injury has kept him out of action for four months, with the limited-overs captain sidelined for the start of England's white-ball tour of the West Indies. Buttler is eager to make his return and admitted that the lengthy absence has given him "loads of hunger" to get back on the pitch. “I think it fuels that fire to get out in the middle and play," he told TNT Sports.
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England white-ball captain Jos Buttler says he has "loads of hunger" to pull on his country's shirt again after a "frustrating" injury absence.
Buttler will miss the upcoming three-match one-day international series against the West Indies, which begins on Thursday live on TNT Sports and discovery+, as Liam Livingstone prepares to take over as captain.
A recurring calf injury has kept Buttler, 34, out of action since June, with the keeper-batter hopeful of making his return for the five-match T20 series that follows in the Caribbean.
“It’s been frustrating, but now it’s feeling good and I’m looking forward to getting back on the field,” Buttler told TNT Sports.
“A couple of little setbacks along the way, which is frustrating, but I’m using it to motivate me. I’m just excited to get back on the pitch and back with the bat in hand in the middle."
“I’m OK at watching,” Buttler added. “I think it fuels that fire to get out in the middle and play. You want to be performing and part of the team, leading the side. Injuries are always frustrating.
“Getting injured, you have a real respect for the people who have been injured. All that work on your own to try and get back on the field.
“I try not to have a mindset of being frustrated but take it as a bit of an extended break out of the game.
“But hopefully [I can] see it as some time away to really give me loads of hunger to get back on the field and work hard to be back out there, come back mentally fresh and physically as well.”
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Livingstone will encourage England to be ‘fearless’
Livingstone has said that he is “incredibly proud” to be leading the team for the first time, especially after initially being dropped for September’s ODI series against Australia.
With a young squad and a handful of players expected to make their debuts, Buttler feels the 31-year-old is the right option to take over the skipper duties in his absence.
“Liam is one of the more experienced numbers in that group, and it gives him a chance to get some leadership experience, build that leadership group,” Buttler said.
“He’s a player that’s exciting as well, we know what he’s capable of, and it's a really good opportunity for him to lead the team.
“I think it’s really important to let them go out there and do their thing. You don’t want to be asking someone to do exactly what you want to do, you're trying to give guys experience, and Liam’s the captain and will make those on-field calls.
“If he needs a sounding board or anything, he can certainly ask my opinion.”
Buttler also revealed that fans can expect “a very laid-back” captain in Livingstone, who will encourage the team to “put the pressure on the opposition fearlessly”.
“I think that’s the sort of environment that he will create and be part of, that’s obviously the way the team wants to play,” Buttler continued.
“Brendon McCullum is coming in as the head coach, and that influence is there already in the messages he wants to get across to the teams.
“That matches up with the way Liam Livingstone likes to play his cricket, so it’s very much a continuation of those messages.”
'Great opportunity' for newcomers
Buttler picked out John Turner and Jacob Bethell as the players to keep an eye on throughout the upcoming series against the West Indies.
The T20 World Cup is just two years away and the World Cup in South Africa follows the year after.
Buttler believes the upcoming tour of the Caribbean is a unique opportunity for the new faces to stake a claim for a place in the squad ahead of the bigger tournaments.
“It opens up a great opportunity for the guys at the start of their international careers to go out there and play,” Buttler said. “That’s exciting, building that talent pool and the depth.
“There are some guys gaining experience and being exposed to international cricket, which is great for that, getting games into people before big tournaments.
“It’s nice to get some experience under your belt and be tested in international cricket before you get to those things.”
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