Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes were already not picked for the ODI series.
England white-ball vice-captain Jos Buttler and all-rounder Ben Stokes’ involvement in this month’s three-match T20I series against Pakistan hangs in balance, as the limited-overs captain Eoin Morgan admitted that the two players are doubtful for the upcoming home series.
Buttler played the first T20I against Sri Lanka, scoring 68 not out, but missed the rest of the two T20Is and three ODIs with a calf tear that has also ruled him out of the upcoming three-match ODI series against Pakistan beginning in Cardiff on Thursday (July 8).
On the other hand, Stokes missed the whole Sri Lanka series as he recovered from the finger injury that he sustained while playing for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2021).
The all-rounder has been playing county cricket over the past two weeks and England doesn’t want to rush him and Buttler keeping in mind the upcoming Test series against India, and the Ashes 2021-2022 in Australia, as well as the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 later this year.
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As reported by ESPNcricinfo, Morgan said about Stokes and Buttler: “There's always a fine balance between looking at the here-and-now and planning towards the T20 World Cup, also bearing in mind that those two guys are all-format players so they will probably go Down Under and play in the Ashes as well. Trying to balance that along with trying to get the best squad out can be difficult at times, but I think at the moment we're spoiled for choice.”
The skipper further explained, “From what I'm hearing, calves can be quite temperamental -- it just depends on how Buttler feels. In a similar instance to Ben, the priority wouldn't be to get him back as soon as possible if there's a 50-50 chance. I know he progressed his running a couple of days ago and does feel good, but things can change.”
He signed off by saying, “The last thing we want to do is rush somebody back and jump with the level of intensity from county cricket to international when there isn't necessarily a need. We are happy for Ben to progress as he sees fit, and obviously have one eye on the Test series as well.”
(With ANI Inputs)