Buttler ruled out of Pakistan Tri-series with hamstring injury

Jos Buttler will miss England’s one-day international Tri-series in Pakistan next month after suffering a hamstring injury against Sri ​Lanka last week, limited-overs coach Brendon McCullum said on ‌Monday.

The former England captain pulled up while batting during England’s 16-run defeat at Headingley on Thursday. He initially retired hurt before returning to the ​crease later in the innings.

The 36-year-old was replaced by Jordan ​Cox for Sunday’s third ODI at The Oval, where ⁠Cox scored 76 in England’s 223-run win.

“Jos won’t be in ​Pakistan,” McCullum told reporters. “We know he’s an incredible athlete, supremely ​fit and an ultra-professional, so he’ll do everything he can to get back as soon as possible. But it’s hard to judge how long that ​will be.”

England travel to Pakistan for a Tri-series involving the ​hosts and Sri Lanka beginning on October 18. The side will head to ‌Australia ⁠in November for three ODIs and five Twenty20 internationals.

McCullum said Buttler’s absence offered an opportunity to test England’s depth ahead of next year’s 50-over World Cup.

“It’s disappointing not to have Jos, but ​it will be ​good for ⁠us to see where we’re at,” he said.

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“Between now and 14 months’ time, lots of things ​will go wrong. There’ll be selections you think ​will happen ⁠and then someone will get injured, or there’ll be a scheduling issue. You almost have to catastrophise these things a little to ⁠prepare ​yourself for that World Cup.”

Next year’s ​World Cup will be played in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia starting on October ​4.