England's Buttler in as Prior Test cover

England have called in Jos Buttler as cover for wicketkeeper Matt Prior on the eve of the first Test against India at Trent Bridge.

England batsman Jos Buttler

England have called in Jos Buttler (pic) as cover for Matt Prior for the first Test against India. (AAP)

England had an injury scare to contend with on the eve of the opening Test against India when Jos Buttler was called up on Tuesday as cover for wicketkeeper Matt Prior.

Prior suffered a thigh injury while training on Monday, but was set to take a full part in Tuesday's practice at Trent Bridge ahead of the first of a five-match series which starts on Wednesday at the Nottingham ground.

The England and Wales Cricket Board said on Twitter: "Jos Buttler called into the England squad as cover for Matt Prior, who experienced some mild tightness in his right thigh yesterday (Monday). "... will continue to be assessed during training before a decision is made about his fitness for the 1st Investec Test."

Prior had been struggling with achilles problems ahead of the recent two-Test series at home to Sri Lanka, which England lost 1-0.

Before that series, there had been calls for Lancashire gloveman Buttler - aged 23 and nine years younger than Prior - to be given a Test debut after he'd impressed for England during the preceding one-dayers against Sri Lanka which included his 121 off 74 balls at Lord's.

But the player and England management said he needed to become more consistent with bat and gloves in first-class cricket before he could get a Test chance.

So far this season in the county championship, Buttler has scored 491 runs at 40.91 with one hundred and four 50s.

Prior was recalled to the Test side for the Sri Lankan series after being dropped following the third Test against Australia in Perth.

He made 86 in the first innings at Lord's but struggled behind the stumps in the second Test at Headingley, where Sri Lanka won by 100 runs to claim their first series victory on English soil.


Share

2 min read

Published

Updated


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world