Jos Buttler has been ruled out of England‘s upcoming ODI tri-series in Pakistan due to a left hamstring injury. The injury also makes him a significant doubt for the tour of Australia scheduled for November 2026.
The 36-year-old sustained the injury while running between the wickets during the second ODI against Sri Lanka at Headingley on September 24. While England secured a 2-1 series victory in his absence, culminating in a 223-run win at The Oval on September 27, the injury will keep Buttler sidelined for the October trip to Pakistan.
Jordan Cox has been confirmed as the primary wicketkeeper-batter for the tri-series, which begins on October 18. Cox recently strengthened his claim for the role by scoring a match-winning 76 off 52 balls in the series decider against Sri Lanka.
The squad is currently led by Harry Brook, who was appointed limited-overs captain in April 2025 following Buttler’s resignation from the role earlier that year. Despite relinquishing the captaincy, Buttler remained a central figure in the batting lineup, becoming the first England player to surpass 10,000 international white-ball runs earlier this month.
Head coach Brendon McCullum confirmed the update, stating: “Jos won’t be in Pakistan. We know he’s an incredible athlete, we know he’s supremely fit and an ultra professional, so he’ll do everything he can to get back as soon as possible but it’s hard to judge how long that will be.”
The management is prioritizing recovery with an eye on the 2027 World Cup in Southern Africa. McCullum suggested that treating injury setbacks as worst-case scenarios helps the squad build necessary depth. “You almost have to catastrophise these things a little to prepare yourself for that World Cup,” the coach added.
Cox acknowledged the pressure of stepping in for the veteran, noting: “They’re big shoes to fill, for sure – Jos is probably the best ever white-ball cricketer we’ve produced.”
England, who currently sit at the top of the T20 world rankings, will face both Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the ODI tri-series. A final decision on Buttler’s participation in the Australian tour will be made following the results of an MRI scan later this month.
