In a major upset to England’s T20I series against Pakistan, skipper Jos Buttler is set to miss the upcoming third match slated for Cardiff on May 28th. The reason for his absence, however, is a joyous one – Buttler and his wife Louise are expecting the imminent arrival of their third child, affectionately dubbed ‘Little Jos’.
This news brings joy to Buttler, who played a pivotal role in England’s 23-run victory over Pakistan at Edgbaston, securing a 1-0 lead for the hosts. However, his absence poses a challenge to the team’s batting lineup.
Buttler, naturally, prioritized his family and flew back to London to be with his wife Louise after the second T20I in Birmingham. Consequently, he missed the team’s training session in Cardiff and is unlikely to feature in the third T20I at Sophia Gardens.
While his return for the final match of the series at The Oval on Thursday remains uncertain, it is anticipated that he will rejoin the squad for their departure to the Caribbean for the T20 World Cup on time.
Who Can England Replace Jos Buttler With Against PAK?
Buttler’s explosive 84 runs off just 51 balls while opening the batting at Edgbaston was pivotal in England’s victory. In his absence, the team will need to reshuffle their batting order. The most probable scenario sees Will Jacks and Jonny Bairstow moving up a spot each in the lineup, potentially opening a slot at number four for Ben Duckett. Duckett boasts a stellar T20I record against Pakistan, having scored 233 runs at an average of 46.60 and a strike rate of 159.58 against the Men in Green.
The team might also consider bolstering their bowling attack by adding another bowling all-rounder like Sam Curran. Vice-captain Moeen Ali, who has led 12 T20s previously, is expected to skipper the team in Buttler’s absence.
