England's Jos Buttler ruled out of final ODI against New Zealand in Durham
Saturday 20 June 2015 15:57, UK
Jos Buttler has been ruled out of England's decisive ODI against New Zealand in Durham with a hand injury.
The Lancashire wicketkeeper split the webbing on his left hand in fielding drills at Emirates Durham ICG and will be replaced by in-form Jonathan Bairstow, who was taken out of Yorkshire's T20 game and called into the squad on Friday.
Eoin Morgan won the toss and elected to bowl first on an overcast morning in the north-east, but Buttler's absence is a blow to Morgan's side as the 24-year-old has been an integral part of England's 50-over transformation since the World Cup.
England have posted four successive scores over 300 in this series for the first time in their history, with Buttler hitting his country's second fastest-ever century in their record 408-9 in the opening match at Edgbaston.
The England and Wales Cricket Board subsequently announced on Twitter that Buttler will also be absent from Tuesday's one-off Twenty20 at Old Trafford, but insists his participation in this summer's Ashes, starting on July 8, is in no doubt.
The governing body added: "A decision on a replacement for the T20 will be made following today's ODI. There are no concerns regarding Buttler's availability for the Investec Ashes."
