England skipper Jos Buttler has been ruled out of Lancashire’s T20 Blast quarterfinal against Sussex due to a calf injury, which he has been struggling to recover from. This injury has also put his participation in the upcoming T20I series against Australia in doubt. The three-match T20I series is set to begin on September 11, followed by a five-match ODI series, making his availability crucial for England.
Despite the setback, the England team management remains optimistic that Buttler will be able to lead the team through the entire white-ball series against Australia. However, his recovery is still under close watch, and a clearer picture will emerge once the squad reports at the Utilita Bowl for training.
“We’ve had some bad news on his recovery. He had an injury he was recovering from, and he’s sort of tweaked it again. He’s not only just out of our T20s, but I think he’s even struggling to make the international ones. He was very keen to play for us,” Lancashire coach Dale Benkenstein said.
If Buttler is unable to play, England might consider Sam Curran or Phil Salt for the captaincy, as the team currently lacks an official vice-captain. Additionally, Buttler may only play as a specialist batter if he does participate, potentially leaving the wicketkeeping duties to someone else.
Buttler’s injury occurred while he was preparing for The Hundred competition, which he had to miss as a result. After weeks of rehabilitation, he was targeting a return in the T20 Blast quarterfinal, but this latest setback has extended his time on the sidelines.
Despite Buttler’s absence, Lancashire will still have several England internationals available, including Phil Salt, Liam Livingstone, and Saqib Mahmood, while Sussex is expected to feature pacer Jofra Archer.
As for England’s squads for the upcoming series against Australia, they include a mix of experienced players and newcomers:
England T20I Squad:
- Jos Buttler (captain)
- Jofra Archer
- Jacob Bethell
- Brydon Carse
- Jordan Cox
- Sam Curran
- Josh Hull
- Will Jacks
- Liam Livingstone
- Saqib Mahmood
- Dan Mousley
- Adil Rashid
- Phil Salt
- Reece Topley
- John Turner
England ODI Squad:
- Jos Buttler (captain)
- Jofra Archer
- Gus Atkinson
- Jacob Bethell
- Harry Brook
- Brydon Carse
- Ben Duckett
- Josh Hull
- Will Jacks
- Matthew Potts
- Adil Rashid
- Phil Salt
- Jamie Smith
- Reece Topley
- John Turner
Buttler’s status will be closely monitored as the Australia series approaches, and his potential absence would be a significant blow to England’s hopes in these critical matches.
