England captain Alastair Cook is confident Jos Buttler can do ‘something special’ in India

Back in business: Jos Buttler
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Standard Sport25 November 2016

England captain Alastair Cook has backed Jos Buttler to produce something special when he makes his Test return here tomorrow.

Buttler has played just one first-class match since his last Test appearance against Pakistan in Dubai 13 months ago.

However, Cook believes the 26-year-old, one of the world’s most destructive limited-overs batsmen, can shine when he returns to England’s team for the Third Test against India.

Buttler will bat at No7, with wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow moving up to five and Moeen Ali to the position vacated by Duckett at four.

Durham all-rounder Ben Stokes remains at No6 as England look for the win that would see them draw level in the series following their 246-run defeat in the Second Test at Visakhapatnam.

“Jos is an extremely talented cricketer and we’ve all seen that in the one-day and Twenty20 format,” said Cook. “He’s right up there with the best short-form players in the world and he’s earned an opportunity to play here.

“It’s clearly not ideal because of circumstances and he hasn’t played a lot of red-ball cricket but sometimes when the pressure’s off and you just go out and play, you can do something special.”

Cook, who also confirmed Stuart Broad and Zafar Ansari are unfit with foot and back injuries respectively, believes Bairstow, the leading runscorer in Test cricket this year, will thrive up the order.

“Jonny had a glint in his eye when I told him,” he said. “It gives him more chance to bat. He bats at five and keeps at Yorkshire, so he’s used to that role.”

Bairstow took over as England’s Test wicketkeeper when Buttler was dropped last winter, but Cook said: “There was no temptation to give Jos the gloves back. I think Jonny’s been outstanding and has settled in that role and done very well.”

On Duckett, who averages 15.71 from his first four Tests, Cook said: “He has an England future, there’s no doubt about it. He will come again. He’s a very talented, exciting cricketer for England in all three formats. This is just a blip in his career.”

Cook admitted the injury to Broad’s tendon in his right foot is far more serious than anyone realised after the fast bowler got through 30 overs during the last Test in Visakhapatnam.

“The specialist’s advice is that there is a risk of it going totally and he would be out for a period of time if he played here,” said Cook. “Chris Woakes is definitely in and it’s just a question of whether we go with four seamers and two spinners or three and three again.”

England appear certain to go with that three-three split, given the dry nature of the Mohali pitch. That means Surrey off-spinner Gareth Batty (right) will be recalled in place of Ansari for his first appearance since the opening Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong last month.

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