England vs Pakistan: 'Unbelievable' Jos Buttler deserves Test recall says Nasser Hussain

Jos Buttler should be reinstated by England for the four-Test series with Pakistan when the squad is announced on Thursday (7 July), according to former captain Nasser Hussain. Buttler has been in sparkling form in the one-day format, scoring 73 to help defeat Sri Lanka in the one-off T20 by eight wickets, but has not played red ball cricket since October 2015.

Buttler was dropped for the third Test against Pakistan last winter and has yet to reclaim his place, with Jonny Bairstow preferred behind the stumps for the series against Sri Lanka. Coach Trevor Bayliss has backed the 25-year-old to return to the team but it is not yet certain when he will be recalled.

But after watching Buttler produce another man-of-the-match display at the Ageas Bowl, Hussain wants the Lancashire man restored to the England team when the squad for the first Test is confirmed later this week. "He's unbelievable," he told Sky Sports.

"At times, he is in a different league, he makes batting look so easy and he is so calm at the crease. He is outstanding. I would have him in all forms of the game, he is too good to be playing at Lancashire when there is a Test match going on. I know there are other players but he cannot be left in county cricket, he is too good a talent."

Hussain suggested Buttler could be accommodated by moving Joe Root one place up the order to come in at first wicket down. "He has had a quiet summer, not a bad one, just quiet. When it was going really well, he probably didn't want to move to three but why not now? He might kickstart his summer in Test cricket."