Jos Buttler Ruled Out Of ENG vs SL ODI Series Decider, Replacement Named

Jos Buttler ruled out of 3rd ODI. [Source - AP]In a significant blow for England, Jos Buttler has been ruled out of the third ODI against Sri Lanka at Kennington Oval in London. The wicketkeeper-batter’s absence leaves England without an experienced presence behind the stumps and in the middle-order.England head into the series decider looking to bounce back after suffering defeat in the second ODI. With the series level at 1-1, the hosts need a victory at The Oval to clinch the three-match ODI series.Jos Buttler’s Hamstring Injury in 2nd ODI Rules Him Out of 3rd ODI vs Sri LankaJos Buttler suffered a hamstring injury during England’s chase of 322 in the second ODI against Sri Lanka at Headingley in Leeds on September 24, 2026. He was firing with the bat, taking England towards victory before the setback struck.The right-handed batter initially retired hurt after scoring 67 runs, leaving the field as his movement became increasingly difficult. However, Buttler bravely attempted to continue his innings, returning towards the end of the chase.Buttler eventually fell for a superb 69 off 49 balls after briefly returning to the crease. England ultimately fell short by 16 runs, while Buttler will now undergo further assessment after the hamstring injury suffered during his fighting effort.Dan Lawrence Replaces Jos Buttler in England's Squad for 3rd ODI vs Sri LankaJos Buttler’s hamstring injury ruling him out of the third ODI against Sri Lanka is a huge blow for England. He was in excellent form during the chase in Leeds, but England have now named Dan Lawrence as his replacement ahead of the series decider against Sri Lanka.Lawrence has yet to make his ODI debut and has not played a 50-over domestic match since 2019. Overall, he has scored 670 runs in List A cricket at an average of 26.80, including one century and four fifties.The 29-year-old has remained part of England’s setup, featuring in the recently concluded three-match Test series against Pakistan. He now joins the ODI squad, although Lawrence featuring in England's playing XI for the third ODI appears unlikely.Jordan Cox Likely to Replace Jos Buttler in England’s Playing XI vs Sri Lanka in 3rd ODIJordan Cox, who was part of England’s ODI squad from the beginning of the three-match series against Sri Lanka, is now expected to replace Jos Buttler in England's playing XI for the third ODI at The Oval.Cox is enjoying an excellent summer, having made his Test debut against New Zealand and contributed to England’s Test series win over Pakistan. He also featured in the recent T20I series against Sri Lanka.The 25-year-old is likely to take over Buttler’s wicketkeeping and middle-order role in the series decider against Sri Lanka. Cox last played an ODI for England in November 2024, scoring 22 runs across three matches in his short ODI career, and will look to fill the void.Also Read: Kusal Mendis Breaks Sanath Jayasuriya's Stellar Record In Sri Lanka vs England 2nd ODI