Jos Buttler has announced his resignation as England's limited-overs captain after the team's disappointing performance in the Champions Trophy. England's campaign ended after failing to reach the semifinals, culminating in a narrow eight-run defeat to Afghanistan in Lahore, Pakistan. This decision marks the end of Buttler's tenure as captain, a role he assumed in June 2022 following Eoin Morgan's departure.
Buttler's leadership saw England lift their second Twenty20 World Cup title in 2022. However, since then, the team has struggled, enduring 22 losses in 34 One-Day Internationals under his captaincy. The 34-year-old skipper admitted that he reached a point where continuing as captain was no longer beneficial for him or the team.
"I'm going to stand down as England captain, it's the right decision for me and the team."
The recent tournament was pivotal for Buttler's captaincy. Despite high expectations, England's elimination came as a blow, exacerbating the pressure on Buttler, especially following a series of subpar performances. Reflecting on his decision, Buttler expressed his disappointment at not being able to turn things around.
"This tournament was going to be important result-wise for my captaincy and obviously, two losses and being out of the tournament, and with a bit of a hangover of some tournaments before, I just probably reached the end of the road for me and my captaincy, which is a shame. I'm sad about that."
England's inability to retain their T20 or ODI World Cup crowns further intensified scrutiny on Buttler. The team's performances have noticeably declined since their World Cup victory in 2022. Australian coach Matthew Mott also stepped down after England's T20 World Cup semifinal exit, leaving Brendon McCullum with the task of rejuvenating the squad's limited-overs fortunes.
Buttler remains hopeful that new leadership can help restore England's former glory. He emphasized the importance of collaboration between the incoming captain and coach Brendon McCullum to guide the team back to its rightful place on the international stage.
