Jos Buttler, at 36 years old, faces an uncertain period away from competitive cricket after undergoing surgery on the hamstring injury he suffered during England’s recent ODI series against Sri Lanka. This injury sees him missing England’s upcoming white-ball tour of Australia. The setback occurred as Buttler was batting during England’s loss to Sri Lanka at Headingley on 24th September, where he had to retire hurt but briefly resumed his innings.
Reflecting on his current condition, Buttler expressed his determination to recover swiftly, stating, “More motivated than ever” in an Instagram post where he was pictured giving a thumbs-up from a hospital bed, his left leg secured in a brace. The initial expectation was for him to participate in England’s tri-series in Pakistan. However, with plans altered, his participation in the Australia tour, scheduled for November, appears unlikely. The recovery timeline is unclear as of now, casting doubt on his involvement in the upcoming SA20 tournament with Durban’s Super Giants, set for January 17.
While Buttler endured a difficult T20 World Cup earlier this year, amassing only 87 runs as England reached the semi-finals, he bounced back with a remarkable scoring run in subsequent white-ball matches, accumulating 466 runs, including a noteworthy 69 from 49 balls in the very match he was injured. Additionally, under his leadership, Manchester Super Giants clinched The Hundred, during which Buttler reached the milestone of 15,000 T20 career runs.
Concerns about Buttler’s recurrent injury issues persist. Over recent years, he has contended with various soft-tissue problems, predominantly affecting his calf, akin to the left-hamstring setback during the 2024 IPL season.
Despite this challenging period, Buttler, alongside teammate Adil Rashid, received a one-year contract extension from the ECB, ensuring their contracts remain valid until just before the next year’s 50-over World Cup in South Africa. Addressing Buttler’s situation, Rob Key, England Men’s managing director, clarified the timing of the contract extension, reassuring that Buttler and Rashid remain integral to England’s World Cup plans. “We have them very much factored in,” said Key, acknowledging their commitment to playing for England while recognising the system’s timing requirements. Decisions regarding their involvement will be revisited next year.
Both Buttler and Rashid are expected to feature prominently as England embarks on their World Cup journey, beginning against Bangladesh in Windhoek on 8th October.
