Jos Buttler has decided to step down from his role as captain of England’s white-ball cricket teams following their campaign in the Champions Trophy 2025. The 34-year-old announced his decision in Karachi before the team’s final match of the league stage against South Africa.
Buttler stated that it was the appropriate decision for both himself and the team. He hopes that a new captain can collaborate effectively with coach Brendon McCullum to improve the team’s performance.
Buttler acknowledged that his decision was influenced by the team’s early exit from the Champions Trophy after losses to Australia and Afghanistan in Lahore. The team had been struggling in ODI matches even before the tournament, having been defeated 3-0 by India in a series leading up to the event in Pakistan and the UAE.
Buttler mentioned that the Champions Trophy results were crucial for his captaincy. He felt that after recent losses and previous disappointing tournaments, his time as captain had come to an end. He expressed sadness and disappointment but also acknowledged the honor of captaining his country.
Buttler took over as captain in 2022 after Eoin Morgan’s retirement and led England to victory in the T20 World Cup in Australia that same year. However, subsequent results in both ODI and T20 formats declined, including a group stage exit in the 2023 ODI World Cup and a semi-final loss in the T20 World Cup.
To address the team’s struggles, the ECB appointed Brendon McCullum as the coach for the white-ball teams starting in 2025, in addition to his Test responsibilities. However, the partnership with Buttler did not lead to immediate improvements, with England losing nine out of ten white-ball matches since the beginning of the year.
Overall, Buttler captained England in 44 ODIs and 51 T20Is, with 18 and 26 wins respectively. He holds the second-lowest win-loss ratio among England captains who have led in at least 15 matches.
Buttler expressed his disappointment that his partnership with McCullum didn’t yield quicker results, as he was excited to work with him. Ultimately, he felt it was the right moment for him to step down and for the team to undergo a change in leadership.
