England captain Jos Buttler said he is hoping to get fit again by the end of the Pakistan tour and be fully ready for the T20 World Cup campaign in Australia.
Injured Jos Buttler hopes to recover in time for T20 World Cup (Reuters Photo)
HIGHLIGHTS
- Jos Buttler picked up a groin injury earlier in August
- Buttler was ruled out of the ongoing Hundred competition
- England to play 7 T20Is in Pakistan before T20 World Cup
England white-ball captain Jos Buttler has said he hopes to recover in time for the T20 World Cup, starting October 16. Buttler picked up a calf injury while playing for Manchester Originals and has been ruled out of the tournament.
Jos Buttler was in good form for the Manchester Originals, hitting two fifty-plus scores in 6 matches but he picked up the calf injury while playing against Southern Brave on August 18 in Southampton. Buttler’s injury has raised concerns over his availability for the T20 World Cup but the England captain is hopeful of recovering well in advance.
England are all set to tour Pakistan for a 7-match T20I series from September 20 to October 2 in Karachi and Lahore and Buttler said he is hopeful of joining the team for the historic series. England had pulled of a tour of Pakistan last year but they are all set to play 7 T20Is and 3 Tests in the Asian country.
“It is frustrating to miss some cricket, I have really been enjoying playing,” Buttler said, as quoted by Sky Sports.
“Just as we went out to field I could feel it getting a bit tight and I thought maybe I was going to get cramp or something. I actually did the same thing last year in my other calf so I had an idea what was coming at the end of the game.
“I am going to be unavailable for the remainder of The Hundred, unfortunately.
“Obviously we have got a big winter coming up with the World Cup on the horizon, we go to Pakistan before that as well.
“I think I have to take it as it comes a little bit in the first few weeks and just manage that and hopefully maybe the back end of Pakistan and especially get fully fit for the World Cup,” he added.
Buttler, who took over as white-ball captain from Eoin Morgan earlier this year, will be under considerable pressure as the results haven’t gone their way in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup. England have not won a T20I series after the World Cup last year, losing to the West Indies, India and South Africa on the trot.
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