Jos Buttler has undergone surgery on his left hamstring and will not travel to Australia for England's white-ball tour, with his return to international cricket still uncertain.
The injury struck during the second ODI against Sri Lanka at Headingley in late September, when Buttler was in commanding form. He had accumulated 69 runs from 49 deliveries, striking five sixes, before the hamstring gave way. He retired hurt, briefly returned to the crease, but could not continue.
Despite Buttler's absence, England secured the series victory over Sri Lanka without him, though they lost the match in which he was injured.
Buttler confirmed the successful operation on Instagram on Monday, posting a photograph from his hospital bed.
Successful surgery and on the road to recovery. Feeling more motivated than ever!he wrote.
The 36-year-old's recovery timeline remains unclear. According to Reuters, England coach Brendon McCullum acknowledged before the surgery that the recovery period was "hard to judge", though he praised Buttler as supremely fit and professional.
Buttler will miss England's ODI tri-series in Pakistan, which runs between October 18 and 31. England open their campaign against Pakistan in Rawalpindi on Tuesday, October 20 at 9am UK time. The three-match series was already beyond his reach.
Australia represents a far more significant loss for both player and nation. England face three ODIs and five T20 internationals, with the tour beginning in Perth on November 13 and concluding in Canberra on December 2. The squad for that tour will be named on Tuesday.
This is not Buttler's first encounter with a left-hamstring injury. According to Latestly, he suffered a similar injury during the 2024 IPL, which forced him to miss that entire season.
Contract extended by one year only
The surgery took place on the same day England announced its central-contract list. Buttler received a one-year extension rather than the longer deals handed to other senior players.
His contract now expires on September 30 next year, meaning it will end before the 50-over World Cup. Adil Rashid finds himself in an identical position, also receiving a single-year renewal.
Eleven players have been awarded contracts through to autumn 2028. Test captain Joe Root and white-ball captain Harry Brook are among them, alongside Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue, Jacob Bethell, Sam Curran, Will Jacks and Sonny Baker.
Two of Buttler's deputies in the recent Sri Lanka series were rewarded on Monday. Jordan Cox, who stepped into the ODI side and struck a maiden half-century in the series-deciding match against Sri Lanka, has signed a two-year deal. Tom Banton, who hit his first international hundred in the final game at The Kia Oval, has secured his first central contract.
Zak Crawley's contract was not renewed, while Ben Stokes and Mark Wood have departed the list following their international retirements.
Depth testing and World Cup preparation
McCullum has indicated that Buttler's unavailability in Pakistan provides England with an opportunity to assess their squad depth ahead of the 2027 50-over World Cup. The tour will allow selectors to evaluate alternative options and build confidence in backup players.
Buttler's next scheduled cricket is the SA20 in January, where he is set to play for Durban's Super Giants. However, according to ESPN Africa, his participation in that tournament, which begins on January 17, 2027, remains uncertain following the surgery.
England's ODI tri-series in Pakistan will be broadcast live on Sky Sports between October 18 and 31.
