Jos Buttler has been linked with England in Barbados ahead of his return this week but will not take up the wicket-keeping gloves for the T20 series against West Indies.
Several attempts to return have had to be halted due to a calf injury, meaning England’s white-ball captain has not played a professional game since the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean at the end of June.
After missing The Hundred in the summer, September’s limited-overs visit to Australia and the ongoing ODI series against the Windies, Buttler plans to ease back into his role as a specialist opening batsman.
Instead, Phil Salt will be behind the stumps when the T20s begin with a double-header in Bridgetown this weekend. This allows Buttler to get closer to the bowlers and communicate more clearly with them.
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Sky Sports’ Nasser Hussain says Jos Buttler should be the one making the decisions for England.
Moeen Ali and Chris Jordan were previously relied upon to fulfill this role, but these two are no longer involved in the preparations and Buttler is now one of the few experienced heads in the dressing room.
“Maybe having a chance to talk to the bowlers in the middle will help him get a little more out of it,” Salt said.
“The only thing keeping it takes away from you is the advantage of the bowlers always being on top.
“Sometimes things don’t go as planned and you can get stuck in a bit of a position where the only time you run is to the bowler when you’re running to reaffirm something positive.”
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Jos Buttler talks about the impact of England’s new limited-overs coach Brendon McCullum.
Buttler remained on 106 from 108 in the previous T20 but was preparing to hand over responsibility if fit for the match against Australia, with Salt taking charge in the T20s and Jamie Smith in the ODIs.
After arriving in Barbados on Sunday evening, Buttler was one of a handful of players to undergo optional training at Kensington Oval. There he completed some close defensive drills and had five minutes to throw at the net before the showers arrived. I came to a hasty conclusion.
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Brendon McCullum says he is very confident in Jos Buttler’s white-ball captaincy and wants him to enjoy playing for England again.
While Buttler is focused on strengthening his captaincy after a tricky 12 months that cost England both limited-overs World Cups, Salt is keen to have more of an impact on the game.
“I haven’t done much in the UK recently, but I like to maintain it,” Salt said. “I think that’s where I suggest the side the most, I think it’s always the best place to watch the game.
“I’ll do whatever the team asks me to do. That’s always been my mentality. I want to be involved in everything. Even when I’m on the field, I want the ball to come to me every time.”
West Indies vs England Schedule (Always England and Ireland)
- First ODI: Antigua – West Indies win by 8 wickets (DLS)
- Second ODI: Antigua – England wins by 5 wickets
- Third ODI: Barbados – Wednesday 6 November (6pm)
- First T20: Barbados – Saturday, November 9 (8pm)
- Second T20: Barbados – Sunday, November 10 (8pm)
- Third T20: Saint Lucia – Thursday 14 November (8pm)
- Fourth T20: Saint Lucia – Saturday 16 November (8pm)
- Fifth T20: Saint Lucia – Sunday 17 November (8pm)
Follow the West Indies white-ball tour throughout England sky sports‘ A digital platform with live blogs and reports. The third and final one-day international takes place in Barbados on Wednesday (6pm UK and Ireland start).
