Jos Buttler's international comeback time gets shifted again

English white-ball captain Jos Buttler’s frustrating recovery process continues as he is set to miss the ODI series in the West Indies tour, starting on October 31. 

The 34-year-old Jos Buttler hasn’t played a match since the semi-final defeat against India in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 last June. During his preparation ahead of the Hundred, he got a calf injury. 

Jos Buttler missed out on two home white-ball series

Due to the injury, Buttler missed the entire Hundred along with the home white-ball series against Australia, where they played three T20Is and five ODIs. 

After the ongoing three-match Test series against the hosts Pakistan, which is a part of the 2023-2025 ICC World Test Championship, England will travel to the West Indies for a three-match ODI series and five-match T20I series. 

The ODI series will begin on October 31. North Sound will host the first two ODIs, as the second ODI has been scheduled for November 2. Bridgetown will host the last ODI on November 6.

Bridgetown will also host the first two T20Is on November 10 and 11. Gros Islet will then host the last three fixtures of the T20I series on November 15, 17, and 18. 

ECB announced Buttler's replacement

Although Bullter was expected to be available for the complete West Indies tour, it is now revealed that the white-ball captain will miss the ODI series. In his rehabilitation, Buttler suffered a slight setback. Uncapped wicketkeeper-batter Michael Pepper has replaced Jos Buttler in the ODI squad. 

However, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has confirmed that Buttler will be available for the T20I series in the West Indies. 

In the absence of Buttler, Phil Salt led the English team in the home T20I series against Australia, and Harry Brook was the English ODI captain against Australia. 

Liam Livingstone will lead the English ODI team in the upcoming West Indies tour. The ECB will add about two players for the West Indies tour after the team selection of the Rawalpindi Test, starting on October 24.