'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
England will be without their white-ball captain Jos Buttler for the upcoming three-match home T20I series against Australia. The keeper-batter has been ruled out of the rubber due to a calf injury.
It remains to be seen if Buttler can recover ahead of the subsequent five-match ODI series against Australia. The 33-year-old missed The Hundred 2024 due to the same injury.
After being ruled out for the Australia T20Is, Buttler shared an Instagram story to suggest that he is working hard to regain full fitness. The swashbuckling batter wrote:
"Frustrating to have a setback with the injury but working hard to get it right."
Buttler was last seen in action during the 2024 T20 World Cup. England's campaign ended following a 68-run defeat to eventual champions India in the semi-final. He was the leading run-getter for England in the showpiece event, chalking up 214 runs across seven innings at a strike rate of 158.51.
Phil Salt to lead England in Jos Buttler's absence
With Jos Buttler ruled out, England have named wicketkeeper Phil Salt as the stand-in captain for the three-match T20I series against Australia. All-rounder Jamie Overton was named as Buttler's replacement in the squad.
It is worth mentioning that England will play under new interim head coach Marcus Trescothick. While the team's red-ball Brendon McCullum has been roped in to coach the Three Lions in limited-overs cricket as well, he is expected to take charge next year.
The T20I series between England and Australia is set to kick off at Southampton on September 11. The second (September 13) and third (September 15) T20Is will take place at Cardiff and Manchester, respectively.
England's updated squad for Australia T20Is: Phil Salt (C), Jofra Archer, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Sam Curran, Josh Hull, Will Jacks, Liam Livingstone, Saqib Mahmood, Dan Mousley, Adil Rashid, Jamie Overton, Reece Topley, and John Turner.
