England’s limited-overs captain Jos Buttler’s return to action has faced another blow, as he has been ruled out of the upcoming ODI series against the West Indies. Buttler has been dealing with a calf injury for four months, and his recovery has encountered yet another setback.
England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said in a statement, “Buttler will miss the three-match one-day international series against West Indies after suffering a slight setback in his rehabilitation.”
Wicketkeeper-batter Michael Pepper has been called up to the squad as Jos Buttler’s replacement.
In Buttler’s absence, Liam Livingstone will captain England for the first time in international cricket. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced the squad for the ODI and T20I series against the West Indies, with Livingstone stepping in since Harry Brook is also in Pakistan with the Test team.
Buttler has been sidelined from competitive cricket since the T20 World Cup 2024 semifinal against India. He missed The Hundred for Manchester Originals and withdrew from the T20I and ODI series against Australia. His return has been further delayed by a setback in his recovery.
