England Suffer Major Setback, Skipper Jos Buttler Doubtful For T20I Series Against Australia

New Delhi: The England National Cricket Team has encountered a significant setback ahead of their white-ball series against Australia. Reports from ESPNCricinfo suggest that Jos Buttler’s participation in the T20I series against the 2021 T20 World Cup champions is now in doubt.

Buttler sustained a calf injury, forcing him to miss Lancashire’s T20 Blast quarter-final, raising doubts about his availability for the upcoming T20I series against Australia. However, the team management remains largely unconcerned about his fitness ahead of the opening match.

The England National Cricket Team management is optimistic that Jos Buttler will be fit for the first T20I against Australia, scheduled for September 11. The team is set to have two days of training, after which Buttler’s availability will become clearer.

If Jos Buttler is ruled out of the T20I series against Australia, it remains unclear who will lead the England team in his absence. With no official vice-captain named, Sam Curran and Phil Salt are considered the top contenders to step into the captaincy role if Buttler is unavailable.

Reports suggest that Jos Buttler may not keep wickets in the T20I series against Australia. Despite his recent exclusion from the T20 Blast quarter-final with Lancashire, there is still a possibility he could participate in the series.

Buttler’s last appearance was in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2024. Since then, he has been sidelined, including a setback in July when a calf injury sustained during his preparations for the Hundred ruled him out of the tournament.

Buttler was expected to return to action in the T20 Blast quarter-final after his rehabilitation. However, his situation deteriorated, and he was ultimately deemed unfit to play in the domestic match for Lancashire in London.