England chief Rob Key opens door for Jos Buttler to return to Test cricket

Jos Buttler was dropped following a disappointing Ashes series, but Rob Key believes the wicketkeeper could still have a future in the England Test team

Managing Director of England Men’s Cricket Rob Key believes Jos Buttler could still become an “outstanding” Test match player, despite his recent axing after a poor Ashes tour.

Buttler has played a total of 57 Tests for England and scored 2,907 runs at an average of 31.94, including two centuries. However, he managed just 107 runs at 15.28 during the Ashes and, after missing the final Test of the series through injury, was replaced by Ben Foakes for England’s tour of the West Indies in March.

Given Buttler’s status as one of the best white ball players in the world and the fact he is expected to replace Eoin Morgan as England’s ODI and T20I captain when the 35-year-old eventually calls time on his international career, fans could be forgiven for thinking Buttler’s Test career could be over. However, Key has left the door open for him to return when quizzed about Buttler’s future.

In an appearance on ‘The Vaughany and Tuffers Cricket Club’ podcast, Key said: “Well, at the moment, Jos is obviously playing white ball [cricket]. He’s not in that Test side but I see no reason why Jos Buttler needs to retire from playing Test cricket.

“Now, unless he turns around and says ‘I just want to go down that white-ball path’ then that’s a different conversation. He’s had a pretty big IPL.

“I think he’ll come back and then he will start thinking about things but even if in a year’s time, whenever it is, I don’t see why he has to retire unless he turns around and says, ‘I have no interest in the red-ball game whatsoever, it’s not for me.’ I always thought that he could be an outstanding Test match batsman-wicket-keeper.

“I still think that – and I see no reason why he still couldn’t do that and why he has to make any sort of decision either way or why we have to. My bet is that McCullum and Stokes can get the best out of all of these people.”

Key was also asked why leg-spinner Matt Parkinson had been overlooked for the first Test against New Zealand, explaining: “Jack Leach was just ahead of him and that’s the only reason at the moment. And what I’ve also said this week with Brendon and Ben is we don’t have to get every decision in the first week.

“We will see. It’s that balance between loyalty and making sure that everyone else around that team sees that you have a bit of faith in the people that are around.”