Jos Buttler steps down from his role following England’s disappointing defeat in the ICC Champions Trophy.
Jos Buttler has announced his resignation as England’s white-ball captain, just days after their group-stage exit from the ICC Champions Trophy. England’s journey in the tournament came to a close with a narrow eight-run loss to Afghanistan, following a five-wicket defeat to Australia in their opening match.
In a press conference ahead of England’s match against South Africa, Buttler confirmed, “I’m stepping down as captain. It’s the right decision for me and the team.” He expressed hope that his departure would allow a new leader to emerge, one who could work alongside coach Brendon McCullum to steer the team back to success.
Buttler, who took over the captaincy from the retired Eoin Morgan in June 2022, noted that the team’s disappointing results in the tournament made this decision inevitable. “After two losses and an early exit from the tournament, combined with previous disappointments, it’s clear that my time as captain has come to an end,” he said. “It’s a tough decision, and I’m sad about it.”
During Buttler’s tenure, England experienced a mix of successes and setbacks. While he led the team to victory in the 2022 T20 World Cup, they failed to retain their titles in both the T20 and ODI World Cups. Under his leadership, England lost 22 of the 34 One-Day Internationals played.
Buttler’s resignation comes after the departure of Australian coach Matthew Mott, following England’s semi-final exit from the T20 World Cup last year. Brendon McCullum, former New Zealand captain, was subsequently brought in to revitalise England’s limited-overs team.
Former England captain Nasser Hussain has suggested that batter Harry Brook could be Buttler’s potential successor. Brook, who captained the team during an ODI series against Australia in September, is currently the vice-captain of the team in the Champions Trophy.
England’s next challenge will be a one-off test against Zimbabwe in May, followed by a series against the West Indies featuring three ODIs and three T20s.
