Buttler Out, Cox In: England's Bold Gamble for Series Decider

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-09-27

### Jordan Cox Gets the Call as Buttler Sits Out Jordan Cox is set to make his first ODI appearance since 2024 in the series decider against Sri Lanka at The Oval on Sunday. England turned to Cox after regular wicketkeeper Jos Buttler was ruled out with a hamstring injury, opening the door for a player who has spent much of this summer waiting for exactly this kind of chance. Buttler's withdrawal from the third ODI hands Cox a route back into the England side across a third format this year. He has already featured in Tests and T20Is against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, and a place in the ODI XI would complete the set. Cox has been here before, in a sense — his rise this summer has repeatedly followed injuries to other players. ### From Injury Cover to Key Contender The 25-year-old cricketer stepped into the Test side at The Oval after Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were withdrawn, then returned against Pakistan when Jacob Bethell was ruled out with a knee problem. He made three fifties in five innings during that stretch. Cox knows the flip side of that pattern too. Two winters ago, a fractured thumb in the nets cost him a Test debut in New Zealand, so this summer's run of opportunities has come after a long wait rather than a smooth one. ### A Two-Year Gap That Made Him Hungrier Cox made his white-ball debut for England back in 2024, but he did not play for the side again until this year. He said the gap taught him more about his own game, particularly in red-ball cricket, and sharpened his hunger to get back. Watching teammates succeed for England while he was out of the picture pushed him to want another chance, he said. That chance arrived at No. 3 in the Test team when Bethell was injured, and Cox says he wanted to prove people could trust him in that role. The Kent batter also kept wicket during the third Test against Pakistan after Jamie Smith injured his finger, taking five dismissals and hitting the winning run as England completed a 3-0 series sweep. That versatility across roles and formats has become central to his case for a regular place. ### What a Recall Means for England's Depth A place in Sunday's XI would be only Cox's tenth List A appearance, underlining how thin his experience is at this level compared to his exposure in the other formats. Buttler remains, in Cox's own words, one of the best white-ball cricketers England has produced, but his absence gives the squad a look at its depth option behind the stumps. England have a heavy winter ahead, with tours of Pakistan, Australia, South Africa and Bangladesh all scheduled, and Cox says his focus is on taking chances as they come rather than looking too far ahead. The ECB is also due to announce its next round of central contracts in the coming weeks, and a strong showing at The Oval could factor into that decision. Sri Lanka levelled the series with a win at Headingley on Thursday, so England will be looking to close out the tour with a 2-1 result. For Cox, a recall on Sunday would mark another step in a summer that has repeatedly rewarded him for being ready when the opportunity arrived. > "I just want to take my chances when they come," Cox said. "You never know when the next one will be." For more cricket news and updates, follow our blog!