Jos Buttler out of New Zealand T20 but on course for Ashes

Chester-le-Street: England`s Jos Buttler has been ruled out of Tuesday`s lone Twenty20 international against New Zealand at Old Trafford with the hand injury that sidelined him from Saturday`s one-day series decider, the England and Wales Cricket Board announced via Twitter.

However, with the Ashes series just weeks away, the ECB also said Saturday that Lancashire wicket-keeper/batsman Buttler ought to be fit for the first Test against Australia in Cardiff starting on July 8.

Buttler split the webbing between thumb and forefinger on his left hand on Friday as England trained on the outfield at Chester-le-Street, the venue for Saturday`s fifth one-day international against New Zealand. 

"Jos Buttler has been ruled out of the NatWest IT20 against New Zealand with the hand injury that forced him to miss the current ODI," said a statement on the England Cricket Twitter feed.

"There are no concerns regarding Buttler`s availability for the Investec Ashes.

"A decision on a replacement for the T20 will be made following today`s (Saturday`s) ODI," officials added.

Yorkshire`s Jonny Bairstow replaced Buttler behind the stumps at the Riverside after being called up on Friday, even though Kent wicket-keeper Sam Billings, again selected Saturday as a batsman only, was already in the squad. 

Bairstow, 25, has now won nine ODI caps in addition to his 14 appearances in Tests and 18 in Twenty20 internationals.

However, he has been overtaken in the pecking order by dynamic batsman Buttler, now England`s first-choice wicket-keeper in all three international formats.

The 24-year-old has now played in eight Tests, 59 ODIs and 37 Twenty20 internationals.

Saturday`s clash was the culmination of a thrilling one-day series, with England and beaten World Cup finalists New Zealand all square at 2-2.