Jos Buttler’s bid to relaunch his captaincy of England’s white-ball teams has suffered a setback after he was ruled out of next week’s three-match T20I series against Australia with a recurrence of the calf injury that has derailed his summer.
Buttler, 33, has not played a competitive match since the failed T20 World Cup defence in June that cost Matthew Mott his job as head coach, having picked up the injury during a beach run on holiday. In his absence, and with previous vice-captain Moeen Ali now seemingly out of the picture, opener Phil Salt will lead the T20 team.
England have admitted that Buttler is now also a “doubt” for the five-match ODI series against Australia that follows and completes the international summer. Jordan Cox, the uncapped Essex batter, has now been added to the 50-over set-up as cover. Surrey’s Jamie Overton, who is playing as a batter this summer while recovering from a lower back stress fracture, has been added to the T20 squad.
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England men’s squads for T20 and ODI series against Australia
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T20 squad Phil Salt (capt), Jofra Archer (Sussex), Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire), Brydon Carse (Durham), Jordan Cox (Essex), Sam Curran (Surrey), Josh Hull (Leicestershire), Will Jacks (Surrey), Liam Livingstone (Lancashire), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Dan Mousley (Warwickshire), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Jamie Overton (Surrey), Reece Topley (Surrey), John Turner (Hampshire)
ODI squad Jos Buttler (Lancashire, capt), Jofra Archer (Sussex), Gus Atkinson (Surrey), Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire), Harry Brook (Yorkshire), Brydon Carse (Durham), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Josh Hull (Leicestershire), Will Jacks (Surrey), Matthew Potts (Durham), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Phil Salt (Lancashire), Jamie Smith (Surrey), Reece Topley (Surrey), John Turner (Hampshire), Jordan Cox (Essex)
T20 schedule
1st IT20: Wed 11 Sep, Utilita Bowl (6.30pm)
2nd IT20: Fri 13 Sep, Sophia Gardens (6.30pm)
3rd IT20: Sun 15 Sep, Emirates Old Trafford (2.30pm)
ODI schedule
1st ODI: Thu 19 Sep, Trent Bridge, (12.30pm)
2nd ODI: Sat 21 Sep, Headingley (11am)
3rd ODI: Tue 24 Sep, Seat Unique Riverside (12.30pm)
4th ODI: Fri 27 Sep, Lord’s (12.30pm)
5th ODI: Sun 29 Sep, Seat Unique Stadium (11am)
Should Buttler fail to make the start of the ODI series at Trent Bridge on 19 September then Harry Brook is understood to be named captain of this side. Like Salt, it would Brook’s first outing as an England skipper and further the leadership experience he gained at Northern Superchargers during the Hundred this summer.
While Brendon McCullum will not officially begin as head coach of the white-ball teams until the new year – Marcus Trescothick will take on the role for the Australia series and a tour of the Caribbean in November – Buttler’s absence is a blow as he looks to demonstrate he is still the best candidate to lead.
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Buttler is seemingly still the preferred choice in the role, having been namechecked by McCullum in the official press release that confirmed the New Zealander’s expanded role and contract extension on Tuesday. However, after two disappointing World Cup defences last winter – both in terms of runs and results – reasserting his authority over two refreshed squads will initially need to take place from the sidelines.