Buttler's bat message attracts attention

England batsman Jos Buttler might attract some attention from the match officials after television cameras exposed the words ‘F—k it’ written on the top of his bat on day three in Leeds.

The vulgar phrase, written on the exposed top of Buttler’s bat handle, was spotted by television cameras while Buttler was having a drink following the loss of No.10 Stuart Broad in the morning session.

Still images of the bat handle were then shared widely on social media.

Upon resumption, Buttler scored 14 runs off his next three balls including a towering six from the bowling of paceman Faheem Ashraf.

The International Cricket Council Clothing and Equipment Regulations states “Personal Messages” must be approved by the ICC. It seems unlikely the ICC would have approved of this message.

For a first offence, Buttler is likely to get a reprimand.

Buttler has starred for England since being recalled into the Test team.

At Lord’s, the 27-year-old made 67 in the second innings to go with his unbeaten 66 in Leeds.

The explosive batsman entered the two-Test series against Pakistan in red-hot form from the Indian Premier League, but he revealed prior to his Test return he contemplated giving white-ball cricket away to focus on the longest format. 

"Having not being selected in the Ashes squad, I had thought maybe the best way of being the best red-ball player I can be was to stop playing white-ball cricket for a couple of years and give red-ball cricket a real stab," Buttler told BBC Radio 5.

"You wonder whether when playing a lot of white-ball and franchise tournaments, do you have enough time to work on your game seriously and show you are trying to improve and get back in (the Test team)?

"Then you come back to it and think there is no reason you shouldn't be able to play all forms.

"What is really my strength I would have been going away from. It probably wouldn't have been a very smart decision."