Why will Jos Buttler miss the final T20I vs Australia at Ageas Bowl?

Jos Buttler: The English wicket-keeper batsman is in stellar form but won’t be playing the third T20I against Australia.

Having scored 459 runs in 11 T20Is at an average and strike rate of 51 and 157.73 respectively, England’s Jos Buttler is the only player to have an average above 45 and a strike rate above 145 among the Top-50 run-scorers for wicket-keeper batsmen who also opened the innings in a T20I.

Buttler, who scored a career-best 77* (54) with the help of eight fours and two sixes in the second T20I against Australia last night, has been in stellar form in the shortest format at the highest level.

The right-hand batsman’s run-streak also justifies England captain Eoin Morgan’s decision of promoting him as an opening batsman despite the presence of specialist batsmen in T20Is.

Why will Jos Buttler miss the final T20I vs Australia?

After scoring his ninth T20I half-century at the Ageas Bowl yesterday, Buttler left the bio-secure bubble in Southampton for family reasons. The 29-year old player will now miss the third T20I tomorrow as he has opted to be with his family.

However, Buttler will rejoin the national squad for the three-match ODI series against Australia starting from September 11 in Manchester.

In Buttler’s absence, England are highly likely to promote Tom Banton as Jonny Bairstow’s opening partner. The development is further likely to make way for Sam Billings in the middle-order.

It is worth mentioning that Morgan had injured his finger while fielding last night. Having gained an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, England might opt to rest their captain for the dead-rubber match. In such a scenario, Joe Denly will also find a place in England’s XI.