Jos Buttler faces lengthy lay-off after surgery on injured hamstring

Former England white-ball captain Jos Buttler is facing an extended spell on the sidelines following surgery on his left hamstring, but the double World Cup winner has insisted he remains "more motivated than ever" to work his way back to full fitness. The 36-year-old sustained the injury while batting during England's second One-Day International against Sri Lanka at Headingley on September 24. After initially pulling up mid-innings, Buttler retired hurt before courageously returning to the crease later in the match. His stay culminated in a blistering knock of 69 off 49 balls—including five sixes—before the physical strain proved too much. Taking to Instagram on Monday from his hospital bed, with his left leg supported in a protective brace, Buttler shared an optimistic update with fans: "Successful surgery and on the road to recovery. Feeling more motivated than ever!" Heavy Blow to England’s White-Ball Campaign The surgery effectively rules Buttler out for the immediate future. Having already been excluded from England’s upcoming tri-series in Pakistan—with the squad departing later this week—he is also confirmed to miss November’s white-ball tour of Australia. While the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has not yet placed a firm timeline on his rehabilitation, Buttler’s scheduled stint with Durban's Super Giants in South Africa's SA20 tournament, starting January 17, now hangs in serious balance. Soft-tissue setbacks have plagued the veteran keeper-batter in recent seasons, primarily involving calf issues alongside a previous left-hamstring strain during the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. A Stellar Season Cut Short The timing of the injury comes as a cruel setback following a remarkably productive period with the bat. Although Buttler experienced a quiet stretch during the T20 World Cup in India earlier in the year—managing just 87 runs as England reached the semi-finals—he bounced back in sensational form. Across his next nine white-ball international appearances, he amassed 466 runs at a prolific tempo. His stellar year also featured success in domestic franchise cricket, where he captained the Manchester Super Giants to victory in The Hundred while achieving a historic milestone: becoming the first player in history to pass 15,000 career runs in T20 cricket. Contract Extension & 2027 World Cup Ambitions Despite the current setback, the ECB demonstrated firm backing in Buttler's future. On Monday, Buttler and fellow white-ball stalwart Adil Rashid were both awarded one-year central contract extensions. Because standard annual contracts wrap up on September 30, Buttler's new deal technically expires just a week before England begins its 2027 50-over World Cup campaign against Bangladesh in Windhoek on October 8. However, Rob Key, Managing Director of England Men's Cricket, quickly dispelled any doubts regarding their inclusion in the marquee tournament in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. Key emphasized that the contract duration was purely administrative rather than reflective of Buttler’s long-term standing in the team: "We don't see it that Jos Buttler and Adil Rashid aren't going to be a part of that World Cup. We have them very much factored in. If they weren't a part of it, we wouldn't have been playing them since then. They're both desperate to play for England. It's the way the system works as much as anything else." With a vital World Cup cycle on the horizon, Buttler’s focus now turns entirely to rehab as he aims to make a complete recovery and reclaim his spot in England’s setup.