England’s white-ball captain Jos Buttler will miss at least the next three matches due to a recurring calf injury, delaying his return to competitive cricket. Buttler, who has been sidelined for four months, has not played since England’s T20 World Cup semi-final defeat against India in June.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed that Buttler, 34, has encountered a “slight setback” in his rehabilitation process, preventing him from participating in the upcoming ODI series against the West Indies. Instead, he will travel directly to Barbados ahead of the five-match T20I series that starts on November 9.
Liam Livingstone has been appointed as England’s ODI captain in Buttler’s absence, marking his debut in the role. Harry Brook, who filled in for Buttler during the recent ODI series against Australia, is currently in Pakistan preparing for the third Test.
In response to Buttler’s absence, the selectors have added Essex wicketkeeper-batter Michael Pepper to the squad as cover. Although Pepper has played only seven List A matches, he was among the top run-scorers in the 2024 Vitality Blast and finished the season with impressive form, including his first-class centuries.
Speculation surrounding Buttler’s international future continues to grow, even as Brendon McCullum, England’s new white-ball coach, reassured fans of Buttler’s importance to the team. McCullum acknowledged Buttler’s struggles and emphasized his potential, stating, “He’s an incredibly gifted player. My job is to get the best out of him so that all those that sit in the dressing room feel like they can be ten feet tall.”
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Interim coach Marcus Trescothick remains optimistic about Buttler’s eventual return, asserting, “There’s no reason why Jos won’t fit back into that mold, score millions of runs, captain well and fit back into the team perfectly.” Trescothick confirmed that Buttler would return to the team upon his recovery, although discussions about his batting position will take place closer to the Caribbean series.
As England prepares for their tour of the Caribbean, the cricketing community will be watching closely to see how Buttler’s situation evolves and what impact it may have on the team’s performance in the T20I series.
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