Jos Buttler, England’s white-ball captain, will be absent from the next one-day international (ODI) series against the West Indies after suffering a calf injury. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed that Buttler has suffered “a slight setback in his rehabilitation” and will be unable to play in the three-match series.
Regardless of this, Buttler will be part of the side for the five-match T20 series versus the West Indies. However, he is only expected to participate after fully recovering from his injury. Buttler has suffered his third calf injury since 2021, delaying his road to full recovery.
Buttler has yet to play since the T20 World Cup in June, so all-rounder Liam Livingstone will be the captain of England for the first time in the ODI series. Livingstone was part of the group that won the T20 World Cup in 2022, and his selection as captain marks a major career milestone.
In another roster changes, keeper-batsman Michael Pepper has been brought up to the team and is expected to make his debut during the ODI series. Pepper’s selection is part of the rearrangement initiated by Buttler’s absence, and he could receive his maiden cap for England.
Livingstone’s nomination as captain is significant because he was just recently brought up to the ODI team for a series versus Australia following Buttler’s injury. His elevation to the captain position shows England’s confidence in his general qualities and leadership potential.
Buttler will remain in England to carry on his recovery before joining the group in Barbados when the ODI series ends and get ready for the T20 matches. His rehabilitation period will influence his ability to play in the T20 series.
The ECB also announced that two more players from England’s Test group, who are playing in Pakistan at the moment, will join the white-ball squad for the West Indies tour.
The team will leave for the Caribbean early the following week to start preparing for the ODI and T20 series. Buttler’s absence required some changes, but England is expecting to play well under Livingstone’s guidance.
Jofra Archer, Sam Curran, Adil Rashid, and Phil Salt are among the main players chosen for the white-ball tour, they provide a balanced mix of pace, spin, and batting strength.
The tour provides new opportunities for players such as Livingstone and Pepper, while Buttler’s fitness will be rigorously watched ahead of his expected return during the T20 series.
