Jos Buttler eager for spot in England's Ashes squad this winter
"There is no point sitting at home worrying about why you don't get picked or feeling sorry for yourself. There are opportunities elsewhere."
Sunday 17 September 2017 14:05, UK
Jos Buttler is eager to make England's Ashes squad and play in the "main thing" against Australia this winter.
Buttler featured in each of the five Ashes Tests in 2015 as England regained the urn on home soil with a 3-2 triumph, but has not figured in the five-day format since December 2016 in India.
The 27-year-old would seem a frontrunner to provide back-up to regular Test wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow, though Sky Sports' Ashes Panel of David Gower, Shane Warne, Sir Ian Botham, Nasser Hussain and Mike Atherton selected Surrey's Ben Foakes ahead of him in their 16-man squad.
"I was a child of the 2005 Ashes and I think that is still the best series of cricket ever," said Buttler ahead of England's five-match one-day international series against Windies.
"Having been part of an Ashes series in 2015, for any English or Australian player you know that's what it's all about and the Ashes is still the main thing.
"You want to be involved with England all the time, it's something incredibly special to be a part of and when you're not involved you know what you're missing out on. Everybody's ambition should be to play for England in all three formats."
Buttler has played in four Specsavers County Championship matches for Lancashire this season, hitting 103 runs with a top score of 49.
"Whatever format you play in you need to be scoring runs," said Buttler, who has struck six fifties in his 18 Tests. "In an ideal world I'd like to be doing that but unfortunately it hasn't happened for me.
"I have known my own game in one-day cricket for a number of years but in red-ball cricket it is still frustratingly something I'm trying to work out.
"One of the skills of modern cricketers is that you have to be able to cross formats. You can't use it as an excuse that you haven't had the time or a run of games. You have to be able to adapt at the switch of a button."
Buttler has played IPL cricket for Mumbai Indians for the past two seasons and has hinted that he could explore other T20 opportunities if England overlook him for The Ashes.
"There is so much cricket going on worldwide now and a lot of exciting cricket you can be a part of," he added. "There is no point sitting at home worrying about why you don't get picked or feeling sorry for yourself.
"Cricket is sometimes a win-win situation these days. You're disappointed to miss out on one tour but there are opportunities elsewhere."
