S Poddar
There is fresh resistance for England’s white-ball cricket team after captain Jos Buttler was ruled out of the three-match Twenty20 series against Australia, starting on Saturday, with a recurring calf injury. His involvement in the five one-day internationals that follow is also in doubt, meaning England must rapidly readjust to life without their experienced leader.
Buttler is England’s white-ball skipper since taking over from retired Eoin Morgan in 2022 and hasn’t played any cricket since June when the injury occurred during the T20 World Cup. His absence is considerable as Buttler has been a main figure in England’s white-ball success both as a leader and dynamic batsman.
In Buttler’s place, 28-year-old Phil Salt, a regular opener in limited-overs cricket, was given first-time captaincy duties for the T20 series. Salt comes with experience in 31 T20 matches and 19 one-day internationals. Thus, an aggressive batsman and one who is not new to the lot becomes suitable enough to fill up Buttler’s shoes if only for the time being.
Salt’s leadership role has come at an important juncture for England, with this series being their first white-ball assignment since the semi-final exit in the T20 World Cup. The matches against Australia start on Wednesday in Southampton, setting the stage for an intense rivalry.
The series also sees the inclusion of six uncapped players in the squad, with Surrey all-rounder Jamie Overton called in as cover for Buttler. The arrival of fresh faces does allow England to experiment, but it adds extra pressure to face one of their toughest opponents.
Being named captain, it is the promotion of Phil Salt, who was acting skipper for Manchester Originals in The Hundred whenever Buttler was absent. The added responsibility will be there if he takes up another role as captain and potential wicketkeeper. Jordan Cox, who has been part of the England Test squad, provides another option behind the stumps, offering flexibility in the lineup.
While Salt does his thing and prepares to captain England in the T20s, attention also turns to Harry Brook-the 25-year-old batter, who, after a bit of rest, is due to link up with the ODI squad. Brook had been vice-captain to Ollie Pope in the Test series against Sri Lanka and has been earmarked as a future leader for England. Having led Northern Superchargers in The Hundred, the experience further seals his reputation as a future captain of the senior side.
Inclusion of Brook in the ODI squad will no doubt come with lots of expectations. Already proven his mettle in many formats, he could be an important presence to help keep the team competitive, especially if Buttler stays out of action longer.
It will be a big ask for Marcus Trescothick, taking over as interim England white-ball coach for the series against Australia and the forthcoming tour of the West Indies in November, to lead that partially refreshed squad. His experience and understanding of the game will be important as England try to negotiate their way through this transitional period.
Behind the scenes, England’s coaching apparatus is also shifting. It has been decided that Brendon McCullum, presently the Test coach, would also take over as the coach of the limited-overs sides starting January. McCullum’s dual role reflects the confidence that the England and Wales Cricket Board has in him to steer both formats, but it also means this upcoming series is Trescothick’s last chance to leave his mark on the team before McCullum takes over.
Experience and novelty blend together in England’s squad, as the series against Australia draws near, with the real test on how these talents are converted into performances. Much will, indeed, be dependent on Phil Salt’s leadership qualities, Harry Brook’s potential, and Marcus Trescothick’s interim guidance if England is to be successful in this important white-ball series. With Buttler on the sidelines, inspiration for this team needs to be dug out elsewhere, a knowledge that might set the tone for England’s future performances.
