FORMER King's College pupil, Jos Buttler has two imminent dates inked into his diary - but accepts he is unlikely to be adding a third, for his return to Test cricket, any time soon.

Buttler's part in the Test series victory which knocked South Africa off their world number one perch was confined to seven weeks of cheerleading and drinks carrying.

That is all about to change, though, the limited-overs leg of England's tour signalling his moment to shine again.

Buttler lost all batting form by the time Jonny Bairstow was preferred as Test wicketkeeper against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.

But he quickly proved - especially in Dubai, where he broke his own record for his country's fastest one-day international century - that England cannot consider leaving him out against the white ball.

He will be back in ODI mode for Saturday's warm-up against South Africa A in Kimberley, his first action for two months, and a stepping stone to a five-match series starting in Bloemfontein.

If Buttler's online calendar therefore has a bold entry for next Wednesday, February 3, it will surely have another three days later.

That is the date of the second ODI in Port Elizabeth but it is then too, at the Indian Premier League auction almost 5,000 miles away, that Buttler's name will go under the hammer.

He has long wanted to join the IPL and with the England and Wales Cricket Board's blessing, and knowledge he will not be better off at Lancashire trying to make first-class runs to oust Bairstow from the Test team, he senses that this spring the time will be right.

"Obviously Jonny has done fantastically well in the Test series, so he is going to be in that side for a while," said Buttler.

"[ECB director] Andrew Strauss is keen to get guys playing in these overseas tournaments, (and) for me it seems the right decision at this time.

"As an English player it is always quite complicated fitting it in.

"But this was a great window for me to try it out and with the players around you, you'd think you can learn not just about Twenty20 but all cricket."

Buttler will enter the auction on a still highly-lucrative basis in the second tier of prospective signings.

He is not thinking about the money, though, with the lure of testing himself against the world's best his driving force.

Buttler said: "You're a piece of meat in an auction, aren't you?

"There are no guarantees of getting a franchise, but it's a competition I would love to be part of."

However he fares - and there is the small matter first, from mid-March, of the ICC World Twenty20 in India - Buttler insists he has unfinished business, eventually, in Tests.

"There is an increased emphasis on one-day cricket," the 25-year-old said.

"However, I think an English player still feels Test cricket is the pinnacle and I don't feel ready to throw my towel in on red-ball cricket yet.

"Having experienced an Ashes series, although personally I didn't do very well, the emotions and feelings of winning Test matches isn't rivalled by Twenty20 or one-dayers just yet.

"If we won the World Cup, I am sure it would be completely different."

If another opportunity comes in Test cricket, Buttler will not be compromising his brilliant attacking flair again.

He has seen enough in the Test series in South Africa, from Ben Stokes especially, to know he too must play his shots - whatever the format.

"I think the way he has played has been an eye-opener for everyone," he said.

"As a peer of his, someone I grew up with, it gives you added motivation and belief you can do it.

"All the talk from [England coach] Trevor Bayliss is that if that is the way you want to play it is the way to play in all forms these days.

"I think I have learnt a lot from watching, it proves there is no one way to bat in Test cricket - and whatever way you do, do it your way.

"If you are going to fail, do it on your own terms."