Phil Salt: England T20 Series Absence – Paternity Leave
Phil Salt will miss England’s upcoming T20 series against the West Indies due to paternity leave, a significant blow to the team’s batting lineup. The opening batsman,fresh from the Indian Premier League (IPL) where he played for Royal Challengers Bengaluru,is prioritizing family time. Jamie Smith steps in to fill the void, offering England a promising replacement option. While Smith has impressed, the competition is fierce, with Tom Banton adn Will Jacks also vying for a place alongside Ben Duckett. All-rounder Jacob Bethell presents another potential solution for the England squad. News Directory 3 has the latest cricket updates. Discover what’s next in the series.
Phil Salt to Miss T20 series Due to Paternity Leave
Updated June 05, 2025
England’s T20 plans face disruption as opener Phil Salt takes paternity leave, missing the upcoming series against the West Indies.The 28-year-old recently returned from the Indian Premier League (IPL) after the birth of his child, briefly rejoining Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Salt’s absence creates an opportunity for Jamie Smith, who has been named as his replacement in the squad. Smith previously impressed while opening the batting during England’s 3-0 one-day international series victory.
While Smith is in contention, he is unlikely to feature in the first T20 match at Chester-le-Street on Friday. Tom Banton of Somerset and Will Jacks of Surrey are the leading candidates to partner Ben Duckett at the top of the order.
All-rounder Jacob Bethell, who opened for RCB in the IPL, is also an option for england.
What’s next
Following the series opener on Friday, England will face the West Indies in Bristol on Sunday and Southampton on Tuesday.