SOUTHAMPTON : Jos But­tler tried to ease the pressure on himself ahead of his Test debut against India this weekend by insisting he alone could not “fix” England’s ills.

Just under two months ago, following his stunning one-day hundred against Sri Lanka at Lord’s, the 23-year-old Buttler doubted if he was ready for the challenge of Test cricket.

But Matt Prior’s withdrawal through injury following India’s 95-run win at Lord’s on Monday saw Lancashire wicketkeeper-batsman Buttler called up for Sunday’s third Test of a five-match series in Southampton.

England’s Lord’s loss left them 1-0 down in the series and represented their tenth Test without a win under struggling captain Alastair Cook, a run that includes seven defeats in nine matches.

Former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, now a Lancashire team-mate, has said Buttler could be “one of the greats of the game,” but the gloveman for one, was keen to put his situation into perspective.

“I’m not coming in expecting to be the one person who can fix English cricket ... unfortunately,” Buttler told reporters on Friday.

“It’d be great if I can. That would be brilliant.

“But I’m just coming in determined to be authentic, be myself, enjoy the occasion and look forward to helping England put in a performance.”

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2014