It was a relief to get dropped: Buttler

England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler says the pressure of his form slump this year became so demanding that he was relieved when selectors finally dropped him from the Test side on the recent tour of the UAE.

After showing impressive touch in England's Test series against New Zealand in May, Buttler's form deserted him during the Ashes and the opening two Tests of their series against Pakistan in October.

The powerful right-hander was unable to post a half-century in 12 innings against Australia and Pakistan and he was eventually replaced in the side by Yorkshire's Jonny Bairstow for the final Test in the UAE.

Speaking to former England captain Michael Vaughan in The Telegraph, Buttler said the stress of his run of outs became too much to handle, particularly when on tour.

"You get to a place where you are thinking 'today I have to get runs or can you just drop me and get me out of this,'" he said.

"It was a relief to get dropped which is sad in a way because you never want to miss a game.

"But I was not performing and mentally I got to a stage where I was not concentrating and did not want to be there.

"I was not enjoying walking out there and feeling like I didn’t know where the next run was coming from.

"You are never going to go to a coach and say 'look I think you need to drop me’ because you have that pride thinking you can turn it around but it was definitely a relief to be taken out of that game and then suddenly the world changed.

"When I was watching the Sharjah Test I wondered why I had been so worked up."

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Buttler managed just 34 runs in four innings in the UAE // Getty

While the runs dried up in Test cricket, Buttler showed glimpses of his enormous talent in the one-day arena.

A brilliant 129 from just 77 balls against the Black Caps in June was incredibly topped by an unbeaten 116 from just 52 balls against Pakistan last month, a record-breaking innings that featured 10 fours and eight sixes.

Buttler says he's still getting used to the pace of Test cricket, adding he's naturally more suited to the limited overs formats.

"Test cricket is an intense environment but the slower pace of the day is something I need to handle," he said.

"I have to get up for it more. In a one-dayer you face more balls in a cluster, you are always in the game and everything happens quicker.

"For someone like me the pace of an ODI drags me to the right level straightaway. In ODIs if I can get my intensity right then I can perform however I want to."

Buttler will this week join England's Test squad as they embark for their four-Test tour of South Africa, starting on Boxing Day.

The 25-year-old admitted it would "seem strange" if he was to reclaim the gloves in the Test side from Bairstow for the opening match in Durban, but added he was ready for the opportunity.