In Karachi, Pakistan, Jos Buttler announced his resignation as England’s white-ball captain following their premature exit from the Champions Trophy due to consecutive losses against Australia and Afghanistan. Buttler expressed that stepping down was the best choice for both himself and the team, hoping that a new leader alongside coach Brendon McCullum would steer the team toward success in the future.
England’s defeats in Lahore, particularly conceding the highest-ever tournament chase of 352 to Australia, marked a significant low. Buttler will lead the team for the last time in their final group match against South Africa in Karachi. The preparation for the Champions Trophy was marred by a dismal performance, winning only one of eight white-ball games against India before their arrival in Pakistan.
Expressing a mixture of sadness and disappointment, Buttler remains eager to continue as a player for England. He looks forward to a time when he can enjoy cricket again and reflect on the honor of captaining the national side. Buttler took over as captain from Eoin Morgan in 2022 and achieved a notable victory in the T20 World Cup in Australia. However, England’s white-ball cricket saw a decline with poor performances in the 2023 World Cup in India, the 2024 T20 World Cup in the U.S. and the West Indies, culminating in another disappointing run during the Champions Trophy.
England has struggled to find form, winning only three of nine games in the 50-over World Cup in India, and has lost 18 of their last 25 ODI matches, including the critical games in the Champions Trophy. Buttler acknowledged the significance of the tournament, stating that it was crucial both for results and his captaincy. The losses signaled the end of the road for his captaincy, a decision he finds regrettable.
Buttler had hoped for a productive collaboration with Brendon McCullum, with aspirations of quickly revitalizing the team. Despite these intentions, the outcomes did not align with the vision, leading him to conclude that a leadership change was necessary for both the team and his own career.
