Jos Buttler ruled out of deciding England v Sri Lanka ODI at Kennington Oval

Jos Buttler has been ruled out of the third and deciding ODI between England and Sri Lanka at the Kennington Oval on September 27, the hosts announced, with the three-match series level at 1-1.

England had taken momentum after winning the preceding T20I series and the opening ODI in Durham, but Sri Lanka overturned the tie in the second ODI at Leeds where captain Kusal Mendis scored an 82-ball century to propel his side to 321/6. England replied with 305/9, losing by 16 runs, and four England batsmen — Tom Banton, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks and Buttler — registered half-centuries in that chase.

Buttler, 36, left the field during his innings in the second ODI with a hamstring problem after scoring 69 off 49 balls, including five fours and five sixes, and will not be available for Sunday’s decider. He has been replaced in the squad by Dan Lawrence, who will join the team on Saturday.

Lawrence had been listed in Surrey’s roster for their County Championship fixture against Somerset but withdrew from that match after receiving the call-up to the England side. The announcement confirmed Lawrence’s departure from Surrey’s match preparations ahead of his arrival.

Across five outings against Sri Lanka on this tour Buttler has recorded scores of 80, 30, 62*, 31 and 69, a sequence the report describes as consistent for England in the middle order, and notes his absence will disrupt England’s combination. England’s middle order struggled to complete the chase in the second ODI, managing only one six and one four in the final 14 overs.

Sri Lanka, buoyed by their performance in Leeds, are aiming for a series victory in England, which the report states would be their first bilateral ODI series win on English soil since 2014. The final ODI is scheduled for Sunday, September 27 at the Kennington Oval in London.