Buttler will miss Pakistan's third Twenty20 match.

SportSync24

27 May, 2024

Buttler will miss Pakistan's third Twenty20 match.

PHOTO: AFP

Ahead of Tuesday's Twenty20 international match against Pakistan, Jos Buttler has pulled out of the England team to be with his wife, who is set to give birth to their third child.

The hosts took a 1-0 lead in the rain-affected four-game series with a 23-run victory in Birmingham on Saturday thanks to a match-winning 84 from the 33-year-old England captain.

He will now, however, be absent from Wednesday's third Twenty20 match in Cardiff, as vice captain Moeen Ali will lead England at Sophia Gardens in his place.

In Buttler's absence, Ben Duckett might be brought in to open, or England might move Will Jacks up from No 3 after he scored 37 off 23 balls against Pakistan at Birmingham's Edgbaston stadium.

All-rounder Jacks of Surrey just returned from a stay in the T20 Indian Premier League, where he led Royal Challengers Bengaluru to victory over Gujarat Titans by nine wickets with a stunning unbeaten hundred.

Jacks is familiar with Phil Salt from their days playing franchise cricket, and he would start the batting with him if he were to move up the order for England on Tuesday.

According to Jacks, "I think we're both very comfortable," Sky Sports. Together, Phil and I have played a lot of cricket, including franchise cricket, which comes in handy when we visit England.

The youngster stated: "We understand each others' games very well and we're both that kind of free-flowing, top-order batters everyone has nowadays."

This series is a warm-up for the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the United States. It ends on Thursday at The Oval in London. On June 4, the defending champions England will begin their title defence against Scotland in Barbados.

Archer slumber

Jofra Archer, an England fast bowler, might get a rest for the Cardiff encounter before the Oval showdown.

After his brilliant performance in assisting England to win the 50-over World Cup in 2019, Archer has suffered from elbow issues constantly.

But following a disastrous series opener in Leeds, the 29-year-old celebrated his much anticipated comeback to international cricket at Edgbaston by claiming two wickets.

On his first home ground since 2020 and his first international appearance in 14 months, Archer recovered from a costly first over that saw 15 runs go for 28 runs to finish with 2-28 as Pakistan was bowled for 160.

The most likely successor for Archer would be fellow fast bowler Mark Wood, but Jacks was happy to see the Sussex pacer back in action for his country.

"It's great for all English fans, even cricket fans all over the world -- everyone wants to see him (Archer) bowl," Jacks stated. It's been a while, and it's amazing to see him recover from the blow he took in his first over.

"He's been bowling good speed in the nets, good speed in the middle, good yorkers at the death -- he's a massive asset for us and we love to have in him our team."

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