Jos Buttler Replacement? England Star Goes Down

Jos Buttler is out for the Pakistan tour. Can he return for the Australia trip?

Can a side battle without its star? England are beginning to find out as Jos Buttler, one of their key white-ball hitters, has suffered an injury and may miss the Pakistan fixtures.

The man had a leg problem during the game against Sri Lanka and has not batted in the last match. Now, the question is whether he will be able to return for the upcoming contests.

What Happened to Jos Buttler?

Buttler was batting at number 5 during the second ODI against the islanders at Headingley when he hurt his leg. He had to leave the crease after hurting his hamstring. He returned later to continue batting but was visibly in discomfort.

The batter did not participate in the final match, which saw England post a record-breaking 223-run victory. However, the team was still unhappy with the situation.

What We Know About Buttler’s Injury

• Jos Buttler will miss the ODI tri-series in Pakistan.
• Buttler’s availability for the Australia ODIs in November remains uncertain.
• England’s cricket board has yet to reveal the severity of the cricketer’s injury.

Buttler is determined to make a quick recovery and play his part for his country, says the team’s coach Brendon McCullum.

The cricket administrator noted that the batter has been working out hard and is fit to continue his game. However, he could not give a definite timeline for his return to the park.

The Rise of Jordan Cox

One player who will benefit from his colleague’s misfortune is Jordan Cox. The all-rounder is expected to fill up the vacant wicketkeeper-batter position and play as a number 6 batter. During the previous match against Sri Lanka, he recorded his first-ever ODI fifty.

The coach has expressed his confidence in Cox and has named him in the squad for the Pakistan series. Cox is a rising star in county cricket who the administrator sees having a lengthy career ahead of him.

This presents a wonderful opportunity for the young man to prove his talent and ability to play at the highest level. Moreover, it will be a great test for the cricketer to face a high-intensity series against Pakistan.

Why Jordan Cox is a Surprise Pick

• Cox scored his first-ever fifty in ODIs during the game against Sri Lanka.
• The wicketkeeper-batter will have more games to prove his skills in Pakistan.
• The county coach has expressed his confidence in the rising star.

Significance of Buttler’s Absence

England are preparing for the 2023 World Cup, and Buttler has been one of their experienced campaigners. As much as this is a great opportunity for the young guns to prove their talent, it will be a test to see who among them is consistent.

If Cox performs, he will have gained confidence to face the biggest event in the sport. However, if he fails, the team will have little hope that the youngster can deliver in Haryana.

Injuries to Other Key Players

Buttler is not the only England star who has been sidelined recently. Apart from the batter, a number of other key players have been injured and have been forced to withdraw from the fixtures. Jacob Bethell, Sam Curran, and Adil Rashid all had a knee injury, a groin problem, and a hand issue, respectively.

This has left a gaping hole in the batting line-up and depth of the team. However, this forced England to look deep into their talent pool for alternative options. This turn of events has been a blessing in disguise for the men in the green shirts.

Looking Ahead

England has a busy ODI schedule ahead of them before the biggest event in the sport. They are expected to play around 20 or 21 ODIs, starting with three matches down under in January, five fixtures against Pakistan in May, and five games against the Blackcaps in September.

Then, they will face off against Australia in a tri-series in the eleventh month of the year. In addition, the England Cricket Board has already engaged in talks with the Australian board for some practice games at the beginning of the tour. Therefore, Buttler has a lot of time to recover and be ready for the first fixtures.

Final Thoughts

Although Jos Buttler’s absence will be a great blow to England, it presents a fantastic opportunity for the younger talents in the line-up to showcase their skills.

We do not yet know if the batter will be available for the Australia ODIs in November. We will have to wait and see what the official statement regarding the injury will say. What do you think about this development? Can Jordan Cox step up and replace Jos Buttler?