Jos Buttler has undergone surgery on the left hamstring he injured against Sri Lanka at Headingley, and England's former white-ball captain now looks set to miss November's white-ball tour of Australia as well as the ODI tri-series in Pakistan.
Jos Buttler has undergone surgery on the left hamstring he injured while batting for England in the second ODI against Sri Lanka at Headingley, and the 36-year-old now faces a lengthy lay-off. England's former white-ball captain revealed the operation in an Instagram post on Monday, photographed in a hospital bed with his left leg in a brace, ESPNcricinfo reported. No recovery timeframe has been given.
| At a glance | Detail |
|---|---|
| The news | Surgery on the left hamstring; Buttler revealed it in an Instagram post on Monday 12 October 2026 |
| The injury | Hurt while batting in the 2nd ODI v Sri Lanka at Headingley, 24 September 2026; retired hurt, briefly resumed, finished with 69 off 49 balls with five sixes |
| Already ruled out | The third ODI decider; England's ODI tri-series in Pakistan (begins 18 October; final at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, 31 October) |
| In doubt | November's white-ball tour of Australia (squad announced Tuesday morning); SA20 stint with Durban's Super Giants from 17 January |
| Contract | One-year ECB central-contract extension announced Monday, alongside Adil Rashid, running to just before the 2027 50-over World Cup |
| Rob Key | England men's managing director says Buttler and Rashid remain factored into World Cup plans; the World Cup starts 4 October 2027 in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia |
How the injury happened
Buttler pulled up mid-innings at Headingley while running between the wickets, clutching the back of his left leg. He retired hurt in the 38th over, returned late in the 48th with the game slipping away, and was dismissed for 69 as England fell short. After the injury, limited-overs coach Brendon McCullum admitted it was 'hard to judge how long' Buttler would be out, Reuters reported; Jordan Cox kept wicket in his place for the series decider at The Oval, with Dan Lawrence called into the squad.
What it means for England
England's players depart for Pakistan later this week, so the tri-series was always off the table. The real worry is November's white-ball tour of Australia, whose squad is named on Tuesday morning, and then the SA20, where Buttler was due to line up for Durban's Super Giants from 17 January.
A vote of confidence
Amid the bad news came reassurance: on Monday Buttler and Adil Rashid were handed one-year ECB central-contract extensions taking them to just before next year's 50-over World Cup. Rob Key said both remain part of the World Cup plans, a sign England still sees Buttler as central to the 2027 campaign despite the long road back.
The surgery news is from ESPNcricinfo's report, with the injury background confirmed by Reuters and Khel Now. Read the full story on Cricinfo. Cricinfo.
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