Jos Buttler confident of recapturing best form for England after lean run
Thursday 19 November 2015 17:49, UK
England cricketer Jos Buttler is confident he has overcome the dip in form which has plagued him for a number of months.
The 25-year-old was dropped during the Test series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates earlier this month after 22 international innings without a half-century.
While still far from his best, the wicketkeeper batsman did look to have played himself into form with 49 not out in England's six-wicket one-day international victory over Pakistan in Sharjah on Tuesday.
Buttler, who was named in the Test squad to travel to South Africa in December on Thursday, admitted it was pleasing to finally get some much-needed runs under his belt.
"It's a huge relief to contribute to an England win," the 25-year-old said, reflecting on his part in an unbroken century stand with James Taylor which helped England secure a 2-1 lead in the four-match series.
Buttler says he learned plenty from his lean run, claiming he will look to keep things simple, play to his strengths and ask for advice sparingly.
"It can be pretty tough, when you're going through that, and questioning whether it will come back in time," he said.
"I hope I can use those experiences to improve me as a player and, if I ever go through that form again, turn it round quicker.
"It is a case of the simpler you make it the better... I almost made it a harder game than it needs to be," Buttler admitted.
"Getting back to what I do well, the basics, and thinking about the game logically is what is going to help me.
Buttler says he will go back to trusting his own instincts after finding advice from others counter-productive.
"I always want to learn, and you probably go through a stage of asking too many questions and trying to learn from too many people," he said.
"You think you're doing the right thing. But actually everyone plays the game pretty differently - and maybe something I need to improve is the filter of information.
"I think that's one of my big challenges - just get back to being myself, trusting myself and almost having the mentality that if I'm going to go down, go down on your own terms, as opposed to trying to be someone you're not or play in a fashion that is not my way.
I think that's one of my big challenges - just get back to being myself, trusting myself.
As Buttler chases a series win in the UAE and a maiden Test century in South Africa next month, he insists he'll try to do it with a smile on his face.
"One of the really tough things going through that is you start to really not enjoy cricket," he added. "You lose that sense of enjoyment - which is tough, because you've got the best job in the world really.
Watch the fourth one-day international between England and Pakistan at 9.30am on Sky Sports 2 this Friday.
