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Buttler: Bubble of international cricket is pretty relentless

Cape Town - Wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler has relished all-rounder Moeen Ali's return to the England Test XI. 

Ali was not selected for the first three Tests of the ongoing series against India, but was recalled for the fourth. 

He struck a valuable 40 in the first innings and clinched nine wickets overall, as the hosts won at the Rose Bowl to take an unassailable three-one lead in the five-match series. 

"We obviously wrapped up a series win in Southampton with Moeen playing brilliantly after coming back into the team, with nine wickets and some important runs," Buttler wrote in a SkySports blog. 

"He is great fun to play with as he is an immensely talented cricketer - Joe Root said Moeen had bowled the best he has ever bowled for England, which shows the hard work he put in during his break out of the Test team." 

The spinning all-rounder effectively earned a recall on the back of a fine stretch of form for Worcestershire in the County Championship, including a superb double-century against Yorkshire - and a telling performance with the ball against Somerset. 

"He has been in immense form for Worcester and carried that into a Test match. I know he told Michael Atherton at the presentation that his time away had made him more determined to get back and that his break had been a good thing," added Buttler. 

"The bubble of international cricket is pretty relentless at times and when you do miss out, whether that's due to being dropped or rested, you do get a chance to breathe again and put cricket into perspective. It energises you and really whets your appetite to get back in and impress. I think we definitely saw that from Moeen last week." 

The fifth Test will start at The Oval in London on Friday.

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