Jos Buttler must fight for his fitness for England's T20 series against Australia

Jos Buttler has suffered a setback in his recovery from a calf injury, raising fresh doubts about his fitness to start England's T20 series against Australia next week.

The England captain missed the entire Hundred due to a calf injury sustained in July, but was scheduled to return to action for Lancashire in the Vitality Blast this week.

However, Red Rose head coach Dale Benkenstein announced that Buttler will miss Wednesday's quarter-final match in Sussex and that he is in a race against time to be fit for the first T20 against Australia on September 11.

“We have bad news about his recovery,” Benkenstein told BBC Radio Lancashire. “He had an injury that he recovered from and has now sustained another injury.”

“Not only is he out of our T20, but I think he will struggle to even get into the international T20.

“He really wanted to play for us. Jos has been in contact with us to prepare for the quarter-finals, but he will not be with us.”

England appear to be taking a relaxed view of the situation and expect Buttler to be ready to lead a newly formed squad for the entire duration of Australia's limited-overs tour, which consists of three T20s and then five ODIs this month.

His chances are probably boosted by the fact that he is expected to give up one of his key roles in the T20s: Phil Salt is expected to act as wicket-keeper, while Buttler plays closer to his bowlers to pass on advice.

Buttler has not played in competitive cricket since England's loss to India in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup on June 27, but has received the backing of Rob Key to remain on the field as captain.

Head coach Matthew Mott was sacked after two disappointing World Cups and Marcus Trescothick was appointed interim manager for Australia's trip. Long-standing duo Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali were dropped from the squad and the never-before-played trio of Josh Hull, Jacob Bethell and John Turner were brought in as part of a team restructuring.