Ashes 2021-22: After IPL 2021, Jos Buttler likely to pull out of Ashes: Jos Buttler has hinted that he could skip the Ashes in Australia later this year to spend more time with his family as the England wicket-keeper expects the birth of his second child. The Rajasthan Royals star opted out of the IPL 2021 Phase 2 to spend time with his family.
Should Jos Buttler opts out, it would be a heavy blow for Joe Root and Co., who are already without vice-captain Ben Stokes, who is currently nursing his finger injury and mental health.
Ashes 2021-22: In an interview with the Times, Jos Buttler hinted that he could skip the Ashes later this year to spend more time with his newborn kid and family. The Ashes will begin right after the T20 World Cup in UAE. It will be followed by West Indies tour, meaning the England players could be away from home for more than four months. Jos Buttler candidly said that his family had sacrificed a lot over the last few years and should the opportunity arise, he would skip the Ashes.
“One of the challenges is working out where the line is where you say I can’t do that. I’ve sacrificed a lot for cricket and my wife and family have sacrificed a lot. You have to be open to saying no. It would be incredibly disappointing if some players feel like they can’t do it, but we’re in a world at the moment where that is a possibility,” Jos Buttler said.
Ashes 2021-22: England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket Australia (CA) are putting in their best efforts to continue with the tour, but Australis’s strict COVID-19 protocols have made life difficult during negotiations.
“COVID is incredibly challenging for everyone and Australia has a very strict policy in how they’ve tried to deal with it. Living for long periods in bio-bubbles was a further complication. Until we get more information about what it (the Australia tour) might look like, it’s impossible to know what decision you’re making,” Jos Buttler added.
Jos Buttler was named in the squad for the 3rd Test of India vs England series, but doubts remain whether the wicket-keeper will feature in the final two Tests of the series. It is likely that the 30-year-old returns home after taking a break and has already made a decision on not featuring in the IPL 2021 Phase 2.