England look bound for defeat against India but will leave Trent Bridge with the consolation of Jos Buttler’s maiden Test century.

Buttler’s 106 and a gritty 62 from Ben Stokes defied the tourists in a fifth-wicket stand of 169 which helped to take this match into a final day – albeit with England on 311 for nine and 210 runs shy of their target.

Barring a double-century last-wicket stand between Adil Rashid and James Anderson or relentless resilience, the hosts will head to Southampton for next week’s penultimate Test with only a 2-1 series lead.

Buttler therefore admitted to a tinge of regret he and Stokes could not defy an India attack led by five-wicket paceman Jasprit Bumrah for even longer. But after recording his first Test hundred, in his 38th innings and four years after his debut, Buttler rightly allowed himself a smile of satisfaction too.

“This is definitely the proudest moment in an England shirt,” said the 27-year-old.

“It has been a long time coming, and a few months ago it was a million miles away.”

Buttler, one of the stars of England’s white-ball teams and leading light too at the Indian Premier League, was out of the Test reckoning until new national selector Ed Smith brought him back at the start of this summer.

Ed Smith believed Jos Buttler could make an impact in Tests
Ed Smith believed Jos Buttler could make an impact in Tests (Mike Egerton/PA)

Asked how his breakthrough Test century compares with his many limited-overs highs, Buttler said: “It’s a lot more fulfilment, probably.

“It’s just been a longer time coming, I think. It proves to me I can do it, and I’m hungry to go and do it again.”

Buttler feared it was a day that would never come for him.

“It’s a huge moment for me,” he added. “I’m delighted … to prove you can do it, that’s a huge part of it.

“(It’s) not just for yourself or anyone else – but to show you can do it for your team as well is maybe the biggest thing and to feel like you … belong.

Jos Buttler is renowned for his limited-overs prowess
Jos Buttler is renowned for his limited-overs prowess (Anthony Devlin/PA)

“I was never sure if I’d ever play Test cricket again.

“All those thoughts go through your head while you’re out there as well when you start to get close.

“I never thought this would happen, so I had to try and make sure it did. Definitely there were times when I thought that race was run.”