Phil Salt to lead England in Australia T20Is after regular captain Jos Buttler ruled out with injury

In the absence of England’s regular white-ball captain, Jos Buttler, who received a setback in his recovery from a right calf injury, keeper-batter Phil Salt will lead the side in the three-match T20Is against Australia starting September 11. While Buttler is said to miss the remaining home summer, including the five ODIs against the Aussies beginning September 19, emerging star player Harry Brook is expected to lead the One-Day team.

Buttler sustained this injury in July earlier this year while preparing for The Hundred, which later ruled him out of the competition. Buttler, however, targeted Lancashire's Vitality Blast quarter-final against Sussex on Wednesday (September 4) for a comeback but got ruled out.

ALSO READ:Mongolia all-out for 10 against Singapore in T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier A, register joint-lowest T20I total

Add WION as a Preferred Source

Now, after having aggravated the injury, Buttler could miss the remaining home games, having not played any cricket for the country since the T20 World Cup semis loss against India on June 27. Salt, yet to captain in international cricket, had only led Manchester Originals during The Hundred, filling in for Buttler.

Meanwhile, all-rounder Jamie Overton is named Buttler’s replacement in the T20I squad, and though if picked in the XI, he would only play as a specialist batter as he continues to recover from a back stress fracture. On the other hand, Jordon Cox, currently with the Test squad, is added to the ODI as cover.

England’s ODI and T20I squads for Australia series –

T20I squad - Phil Salt (C), Jofra Archer, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Sam Curran, Josh Hull, Will Jacks, Liam Livingstone, Saqib Mahmood, Dan Mousley, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Reece Topley and John Turner

ODI squad - Jos Buttler (C), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Josh Hull, Will Jacks, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Jamie Smith, Reece Topley and John Turner

McCullum named England's all-format coach

England Test coach Brendon McCullum was recently named the country’s all-format coach, pipping names like Kumar Sangakkara, Andrew Flintoff and even Rahul Dravid, names discussed for the position. Though McCullum will take over the role at the start of next year, with England travelling to India for an extended white-ball leg, interim coach Marcus Trescothick will continue leading England during the Australia series.

Following the T20Is and ODIs, England will travel to Pakistan for three Tests before heading to the Caribbean for three ODIs and five T20Is against West Indies.

England will then travel to New Zealand for three Tests before returning to Asia for the India series and the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.

Meanwhile, England will play the third and final Test against Sri Lanka on Friday (September 6) at The Oval.

(With inputs from agencies)