Buttler out as England count cost of SCG draw

England's walking wounded are counting the costs of one of their gutsiest Test draws this century after they fought through the pain barrier at the SCG.

Within an hour of avoiding any chance of an Ashes whitewash on a gruelling final day of the fourth Vodafone Test, England confirmed Jos Buttler had batted with a broken finger and his series was over.

The wicketkeeper will fly back to the UK on Monday for treatment, with England's Test tour of the West Indies due for March.

The tourists will also continue to sweat on the fitness of Jonny Bairstow (thumb) and Ben Stokes (side strain) for the fifth Test in Hobart, which begins on Friday, after they too batted through pain on Sunday.

Stokes lasted 123 balls in clear discomfort, Bairstow 105 and Buttler 38 as England's side became just the second team in Ashes history to draw a Test while nine down in the second innings.

Stokes and Bairstow will now be assessed further in Hobart, after the latter did not field and the former couldn't bowl due to their injuries.

"There was clearly a bit of pain relief required," England captain Joe Root said. "A lot of the guys could see a number of players hurting physically and still putting in a huge amount. 

"In many ways it lifted the rest of the group. 

"Knowing that you're going into a high-pressured situation not 100 per cent and then still be able to perform at the level that some of the guys did, it was phenomenal really."

Root hailed the effort as one of the gutsiest he had seen, a week after England were all out for 68 at the MCG to surrender the Ashes.

In the time since they have also battled a COVID scare, with daily PCR tests between matches that stand-in coach Graham Thorpe admitted were wearing players down mentally.

Regular coach Chris Silverwood was also sidelined by the virus, as well as three other members of England's coaching staff.

"It's certainly one of (the gutsiest draws)," Root said. "It was hugely important. Especially at the back of the previous Test match. It was probably one of the darkest days for English Test cricket. 

"It'd be very easy for us to roll over and feel sorry for ourselves. 

"We didn't win the Test and we were a very long way behind the game. 

"But to still find a way to get a draw from where we were, it shows the amount of character and desire and pride the guys feel when they put on an England shirt."

Meanwhile, England have confirmed head coach Chris Silverwood and bowling coach Jon Lewis will rejoin them for Hobart, with the outbreak seemingly now over.

Sam Billings has also been called into the squad as cover for Buttler, and will join the team in Hobart pending another negative PCR test.

Assuming Bairstow also can't keep with his finger, Ollie Pope is another option to take the gloves after filling in the role as a sub fielder in Sydney.

Vodafone Men's Ashes

Squads

Australia: Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith (vc), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Nic Maddinson, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner

England: Joe Root (c), James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Haseeb Hameed, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood

Schedule

First Test: Australia won by nine wickets

Second Test: Australia won by 275 runs

Third Test: Australia won by an innings and 14 runs

Fourth Test: Match drawn

Fifth Test: January 14-18, Blundstone Arena