England will be without captain Jos Buttler for the upcoming One Day International (ODI) series against the West Indies as he continues to recover from a calf injury. Buttler, a key figure in England’s white-ball setup, has been sidelined since earlier in the summer after sustaining the injury, which also kept him out of both the ODI and T20 series against Australia in September, as well as England’s participation in The Hundred.
With Buttler still recuperating, England have named all-rounder Liam Livingstone as the stand-in captain for the three-match ODI series in the Caribbean, set to begin on October 31. Livingstone’s elevation to the captaincy marks his first time leading England in any format, although he brings a wealth of experience to the role, having captained Lancashire at the domestic level. The 31-year-old has earned 81 international caps and is one of the most experienced members of the ODI squad, alongside spinner Adil Rashid and all-rounder Sam Curran.
England’s ODI squad has been reduced to 13 players following Buttler’s absence, and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced that two players will be added from the Test squad currently on tour in Pakistan after the third Test in Rawalpindi. However, the ECB has not yet confirmed whether a direct replacement for Buttler will be added to the ODI squad. According to a media release, “a decision on whether to add a replacement player to the squad is still to be decided.”
Harry Brook had deputised as captain during Buttler’s absence in the series against Australia. However, with Brook currently part of the Test squad in Pakistan, England turned to Livingstone for leadership. Livingstone’s versatility and leadership experience make him a solid choice to guide the squad through this crucial series.
Buttler is expected to make his return in the T20 leg of the West Indies tour, which follows the ODI matches. His presence will be a significant boost for England as they look to finish the tour strongly in the five-match T20 series.
England’s ODI series will kick off at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on October 31, followed by the second ODI on November 2 at the same venue. The final ODI will take place at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on November 6.
For the T20 series, England will face West Indies in five matches, beginning on November 9 at the Kensington Oval. The series will then move to the Beausejour Stadium in Gros Islet, St. Lucia, for the final three games, with the last match scheduled for November 17.
The tour offers England an opportunity to continue building depth in their squad ahead of future international tournaments. While the absence of Buttler is a setback, it provides players like Livingstone a chance to showcase their leadership and abilities on the international stage.
England Men’s ODI squad for the West Indies tour:
• Jos Buttler (T20 series only)
• Jofra Archer
• Jacob Bethell
• Jafer Chohan
• Sam Curran
• Will Jacks
• Liam Livingstone (captain)
• Saqib Mahmood
• Dan Mousley
• Jamie Overton
• Adil Rashid
• Phil Salt
• Reece Topley
• John Turner
Two additional players will join the ODI squad from the Test tour in Pakistan.