Vitality T20 Blast: Jos Buttler sets sight on quarter-finals for comeback after calf injury

England's white-ball captain, who had to withdraw from The Hundred Men's Competition 2024 due to a calf injury, is now planning to stage a comeback to professional cricket with the Vitality T20 Blast quarter-finals, with his home team - Lancashire.

Lancashire are set to face Tymal Mills' Sussex in the quarter-final on September 04 at the Hove, and Buttler has a pending fitness test, post whose clearance, he will be eligible to feature in the all-important clash. While the premier wicketkeeper-batter's return does seem as a positive news, a lot depends on the results of his fitness test, supposed to be released on Monday just before the fixture.

Dale Benkenstein, the head coach of the county side, had confirmed that the English stumper will be undergoing a fitness clearance test on Monday, but will play only if he gets a positive nod from the national physios and others involved.

"That's looking really positive. We should have everyone fit for the quarter-finals. Jos has been doing a lot of rehab. I've been in contact with him and he's very keen to play. We are happy to leave it down to the last day," Benkenstein was quoted as saying ESPNcricinfo.

"He'll do a fitness test on the Monday, just before the game and with the England physios and everyone giving him the green light, then he'll play. We are very keen that if he's fit and ready to go then he'll be playing," he added.

The incoming of Buttler would mean that the Lancs will be entering the contest with a star-studded international line-up. Liam Livingstone, Saqib Mahmood, and Philip Salt are among the other inclusions, while Irish George Dockrell is also expected to be available in place of Chris Green, who will be busy handing his services at the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

However, Sussex, their oppositon don't have a bad combination either, as express pacer Jofra Archer is also all set to feature with Tymal Mills & Co., however, more details on the matter regarding his inclusion are yet awaited.