The England national cricket team has suffered a major blow ahead of the ODI series against the West Indies national cricket team. Captain Jos Buttler has been ruled out of the series due to a calf injury and will join the team in the five-match T20I series.
The England national cricket team is all set to tour the West Indies for the white-ball series. The tour will begin with the three-match ODI series to be played from October 31 to November 6. After that, the two teams will face each other in the five-match T20I series, to be played from November 9 to 17.
Jos Buttler will miss the ODI series due to a setback in his recovery from a calf injury. The wicketkeeper-batsman suffered the injury ahead of The Hundred 2024 and has been out of action since, missing the white-ball series against the Australian National Cricket Team with a calf strain.
Jos Buttler was initially named in the squad for the Caribbean tour. But he has been forced to retire from ODIs. But reports claim that the wicketkeeper-batsman will be fit for the five-match T20I series between the teams.
Liam Livingstone will captain the team in the ODI series.
In the absence of Jos Buttler, Liam Livingstone will captain the team in the ODI series. This will be the first time that the all-rounder will captain the England national cricket team in all formats. He has experience as captain at Lancashire and would love to maintain his confidence on the international stage.
The England and Wales Cricket Board is yet to decide whether they should appoint a replacement for Jos Buttler or not. Releasing the official statement, the governing body stated: “A decision is yet to be made on whether to add a replacement player to the squad.”
Updated England squad for white-ball tour to West Indies
Here’s England’s updated squad for white-ball tour to the West Indies
Jos Buttler (T20I series only), Jofra Archer, Jacob Bethell, Jafer Chohan, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Livingstone, Saqib Mahmood, Dan Mousley, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Reece Topley, John Turner
Two more players will be added to the Test squad currently in Pakistan.
Liam Livingstone will lead the young team in the ODI series against the West Indies national cricket team. With 81 caps under his belt, he is the team’s third most experienced player behind spinner Adil Rashid and all-rounder Sam Curran.
West Indies v England – Tour Schedule
ODI series
Thursday, October 31: 1st ODI – Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua
Saturday, November 2: 2nd ODI – Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua
Wednesday, November 6: 3rd ODI – Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
T20 series
Saturday, November 9: 1st T20 – Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
Sunday, November 10: 2nd T20 – Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
Thursday, November 14: 3rd T20 – Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia
Saturday, November 16: 4th T20 – Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia
Sunday, November 17: 5th T20 – Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia