Jos Injury Not End of the World

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, September 29, 2026

England’s wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler has been ruled out of the upcoming tri-series in Pakistan and faces uncertainty over his availability for the white-ball tour to Australia due to a hamstring injury sustained against Sri Lanka. His absence creates an opportunity for Jordan Cox to take on a larger role, while England prepares for the 2024 World Cup by managing multiple player fitness concerns and emphasizing squad depth.

England’s preparations for the upcoming white-ball tours will proceed without Jos Buttler, who has been ruled out due to a hamstring injury sustained during the recent match against Sri Lanka at Headingley. Buttler, 36, retired hurt in the middle of his innings but returned to bat despite discomfort. Having missed the decisive one-day international (ODI) against Sri Lanka at the Kia Oval, England’s limited-overs head coach, Brendon McCullum, confirmed that Buttler will not be fit for the tri-series in Pakistan scheduled to start on October 20, where England will face Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The injury also casts uncertainty over Buttler’s availability for England’s white-ball tour to Australia in November. Buttler’s absence removes one of England’s most experienced and accomplished limited-overs batters ahead of next winter’s 50-over World Cup in southern Africa, which the team is targeting as a major tournament.

In Buttler’s stead, Jordan Cox is expected to take over wicketkeeping duties and assume a more prominent role in the batting lineup. Cox returned to the ODI side after nearly two years during the recent Sri Lanka series, marking his comeback with a fluent 76 runs that helped England secure the series 2-1. McCullum praised Cox’s domestic form and character, highlighting his versatility and potential for growth. “That was quite a Jos Buttler innings,” McCullum said, indicating confidence in Cox’s ability to step up.

England’s squad selection for the Pakistan tri-series is set to be finalized soon, with other key players like Sam Curran, Adil Rashid, and Jacob Bethell also facing fitness uncertainties. Curran has been recovering from groin trouble, Rashid continues assessments on a bowling hand issue, and Bethell is still working through a knee problem.

McCullum, who retained his limited-overs coaching role after England’s challenging Ashes campaign and the subsequent reassignment of his Test coaching duties, stressed the importance of preparing for contingencies. He emphasized the need to “catastrophise” in selection planning, acknowledging the likelihood of injuries and scheduling conflicts as the team builds towards the World Cup.

Despite injury setbacks, England’s white-ball squad displayed strong depth and resilience during the summer, securing 11 wins in 13 matches since McCullum’s appointment. The coach is focused on making the team "the fittest, fastest, most dynamic and robust" ahead of the tournament, including introducing more warm-up matches prior to key series in Australia.

Looking ahead, England plans to play around 20 to 21 ODIs before the World Cup, balancing the tri-series in Pakistan and a series in Australia by the end of the year. The focus on 50-over cricket may result in some all-format fast bowlers missing parts of the T20 schedule. McCullum also acknowledged the ongoing balancing act players face between international commitments and franchise T20 tournaments like the Indian Premier League, without pressing on whether players should opt out of such events.

With Buttler sidelined for now, England will rely on emerging talent and squad depth as they adapt to the challenges of upcoming international white-ball cricket.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.