England wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler hinted that he may pull out of the Ashes series later in the year amid concerns about how much time he will be away from his family due to Australia’s Covid-19 restrictions.
Jos Buttler skips Ashes Series
Notably, Buttler has pulled out of the IPL 2021 second phase because his wife is expecting their second child.
England will play the T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates in October and November before heading to Australia, likely keeping players who feature in both away from home for four months.
The proposed Australia tour is mired in difficulties that the ECB and Cricket Australia are trying to resolve, but unless the government in Canberra finds a way to permit English players to be joined by their wives and girlfriends.
“I’ve sacrificed a lot for cricket and my wife and family have sacrificed a lot. Covid is incredibly challenging for everyone and Australia has a very strict policy in how they’ve tried to deal with it. Until we get more information about what it (the Australian tour) might look like, it’s impossible to know what decision you’re making,” Buttler told The Times.
“One of the challenges is working out where the line is, where you say I can’t do that. You have to be open to saying no. It would be incredibly disappointing if some players feel like they can’t do it,” he added
Buttler, who is currently taking part in ongoing India vs England five-match Test series, had earlier confirmed that he will miss the second phase of the IPL 2021 for the birth of his second child.
“Jos Buttler will not be part of the remainder of #IPL2021, as he and Louise are expecting a second child soon. We wish them well, and can’t wait for the newest member of the #RoyalsFamily,” his franchise Rajasthan Royals had tweeted earlier.
So far in the India-England series, Buttler has failed to impress with the bat. While England trail 0-1 after losing the second Test by 151 runs at Lord’s, right-hander Buttler’s returns with the bat have left a lot to be desired. In four innings of the Two tests, Buttler has only scored 65 runs.
The third Test begins at Headingley, Leeds, on August 25.
