Buttler rested for Scotland ODI, Plunkett back for Australia series

Swashbuckling English wicket-keeper batsman Jos Buttler has been rested for the one-off One-Day International (ODI) against Scotland next month, while pacer Liam Plunkett made a comeback to the 14-man squad against the Australia series, starting from June 13.

Plunkett was recalled after he suffered a hamstring injury during the New Zealand series earlier in February this year.

Team coach Trevor Bayliss took the decision to rest Buttler for the Scotland fixture, slated to be held on June 10 at The Grange ground in Edinburgh, espncricinfo.com reported.

England skipper Eoin Morgan is expected to be fit for the Scotland and Australia series', despite suffering a finger injury on Sunday, while fielding in Middlesex's last Royal London Cup game.

The injury also forced Morgan to opt out of the fund-raising Twenty20 International (T20I) match between ICC World XI and West Indies at Lord's in London on Thursday, as per the report.

Meanwhile, English pacer Tom Curran has been included in the squad for the five ODI series against Australia.

The 23-year-old bowler was instrumental in setting up a dominant 4-1 win series victory in Australia in this year, scalping six wickets in his two outings, which also included a five-wicket haul in the final game at Perth.

Kent captain and occasional wicket-keeper Sam Billings has taken Buttler's place for the fixture against Scotland. However, it is to be seen whether he or Jonny Bairstow would don the gloves or not, the report said.

It is to be noted that when Billings and Bairstow were playing against Ireland, in Buttler's absence, it was Billings who had to keep wicket.

Earlier this month, England overtook India to seize the top spot in the MRF Tyres ICC ODI team rankings following the annual update.

England, who last topped the ODI rankings in January 2013 gained eight points and moved to 125 points.

On the other hand, India, who were at the top before the update, have lost a solitary point and are in second place with a total of 122 points.

Squad for Scotland ODI: Eoin Morgan (c), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Billings, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood

Squad for Australia ODI series: Eoin Morgan (c), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.