Jos Buttler is set to relinquish his role as England’s white-ball cricket captain after the upcoming match against South Africa on Saturday.
This decision follows a series of disappointing performances, culminating in England‘s premature exit from the ICC Champions Trophy after a defeat by Afghanistan.
Buttler, 34, who took over from Eoin Morgan in June 2022, led England to victory in the T20 World Cup the same year.
However, his tenure has been marked by a string of defeats, with the team suffering six consecutive ODI losses under his leadership.
The announcement was made during a press conference on Friday, where Buttler expressed that stepping down was in the best interest of both himself and the team.
He hopes his departure will allow a new captain to emerge and work with head coach Brendon McCullum to revitalise the squad.
Reflecting on his decision, Buttler cited the significant pressures following back-to-back losses in the current tournament and lingering effects from previous disappointments.
He mentioned, “This tournament was important for assessing my captaincy based on results, and clearly, we haven’t met our expectations.”
Since assuming captaincy, Buttler has overseen 22 defeats in 34 ODIs, a stark contrast to the form that once positioned England as a powerhouse in limited-overs cricket.
The team’s elimination in the group stages of the 2023 50-over World Cup, despite entering as the defending champions, was a particular low point.
Buttler, who played a pivotal role in England’s 2019 World Cup victory, mentioned he would consider “all possibilities” for his future involvement with the team.
Despite the mixed outcomes during his captaincy, his leadership during the triumphant 2019 World Cup, including a vital performance in the final against New Zealand, remains a highlight of his career.
As England looks to regroup and address their inconsistent performance in T20 competitions, the search for a new captain who can steer the team back to its former glory begins.
