End of an Era: Buttler Resigns as Captain
Jos Buttler has officially announced his decision to step down as England’s white-ball captain following the conclusion of the team’s campaign in the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025. The 34-year-old made the announcement in Karachi ahead of England’s final league game against South Africa. This decision comes as a result of England’s early elimination from the tournament, marking the end of Buttler’s leadership in the limited-overs formats.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, February 28, Buttler explained the reasoning behind his decision.
“It’s the right decision for me, it’s the right decision for the team, and hopefully somebody else can come in and work closely alongside Baz (Brendon McCullum) to take the team back to where it needs to be.”
Buttler’s resignation signals the end of a tumultuous period in England’s white-ball cricket, which saw them struggle for form in both ODIs and T20Is despite past successes.
Table of Contents
Champions Trophy 2025 Exit Forces the Decision
England’s performance in the Champions Trophy 2025 played a crucial role in Buttler’s decision to step down. The team suffered back-to-back losses against Australia and Afghanistan in Lahore, which resulted in their premature exit from the competition. England had already been struggling with poor ODI form leading up to the tournament. Just a week before the Champions Trophy, they endured a 0-3 whitewash against India in a bilateral series.
Reflecting on the circumstances surrounding his resignation, Buttler admitted that England’s poor run of results had made his decision inevitable.
“Yeah, I think it’s quite clear that this tournament was going to be important results-wise for my captaincy. Obviously, two losses and being out of the tournament with a bit of a hangover from some tournaments before, I think I just probably reached the end of the road for me and my captaincy, which is a shame.”
While visibly disappointed, Buttler also acknowledged the privilege of leading England.
“I think overriding emotions are still sadness and disappointment, but I’m sure in time that will pass. I can get back to really enjoying my cricket and also be able to reflect on what an immense honour it is to captain your country and all the special things that come with that.”
A Captaincy Journey Marked by Highs and Lows
Buttler took over the reins of England’s white-ball teams in 2022 after the retirement of Eoin Morgan, who had led England to their historic 2019 ODI World Cup victory. Almost immediately, Buttler found success, leading England to victory in the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia. However, things quickly took a downturn in both formats.
- 2023 ODI World Cup: England had a disastrous campaign, crashing out in the group stage.
- 2024 T20 World Cup: Despite a better showing, England was eliminated in the semifinals after a heavy loss to India in Guyana.
- 2025 Champions Trophy: England exited in the group stage, winning just one game.
The team’s struggles were compounded by inconsistent performances, frequent batting collapses, and ineffective bowling strategies. Buttler found himself unable to reverse England’s declining fortunes despite his best efforts.
The McCullum Factor: A Partnership That Didn’t Work
In an attempt to revive England’s white-ball fortunes, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) appointed Brendon McCullum as the head coach of both red-ball and white-ball teams in 2025, expanding his role beyond Test cricket. The move was seen as a bold step, hoping to bring the same aggressive and fearless approach that McCullum instilled in the Test team.
However, the Buttler-McCullum partnership failed to produce immediate results. Since the turn of the year, England had lost nine out of ten white-ball games under their combined leadership. Buttler acknowledged that things had not gone according to plan.
“I’m sad about that and obviously with Brendon coming in only recently, I was really excited to work closely alongside him and hope for a very quick turnaround and take the team forward, but it’s not quite worked out that way. It just feels like it’s the right time for me and also for the team to have a change.”
McCullum expressed his sadness at Buttler’s decision but respected his choice.
“I feel incredibly sad for Jos. We’ve all seen over the last couple of years how much he has invested in captaining his country and trying to get the very best out of those guys around him.”
McCullum also reminded everyone of Buttler’s accomplishments as captain.
“People forget he won the World Cup a couple of years ago, and that can never be taken away from him. He’s done a significant job, often without his best players available. So it is incredibly unselfish from Jos to step aside and leave the post to someone else.”
Despite stepping down as captain, Buttler remains an integral part of England’s plans.
“He is still a huge player for us moving forward, and I’m sure we’ll look at ways to get the best out of him so he has maximum impact as well.”
Also check these:
Delhi Capitals Women vs Mumbai Indians (DCW vs MIW) 13th Match WPL 2025 Full Scorecard
Dream11 Today Match Prediction RCBW vs DCW WPL 2025 14th Match and Who Will Win
Dream11 Today Match Prediction NZ vs IND ICC Champions Trophy CT 2025 12th Match and Who Will Win
Buttler’s Captaincy Record: A Mixed Bag
Buttler’s tenure as England’s white-ball captain had its fair share of ups and downs. Statistically, he led England in 44 ODIs and 51 T20Is, winning 18 ODIs and 26 T20Is. However, he also holds the unfortunate record of having the second-worst win-loss ratio in ODIs for an England captain with at least 15 matches led.
Despite his declining record, Buttler’s leadership qualities were widely respected. He was seen as a calm, level-headed captain who encouraged attacking cricket, much like his predecessor Morgan. Unfortunately, the results on the field did not always reflect his strategic approach.
Who Will Replace Buttler?
With Buttler stepping down, speculation has already begun regarding his replacement. Several names are being considered, including:
- Ben Stokes – England’s Test captain and an experienced leader, though he has been managing injuries.
- Moeen Ali – A veteran all-rounder who has previously led England in limited-overs matches.
- Jonny Bairstow – An aggressive batter with experience and leadership qualities.
- Sam Curran – A young, energetic cricketer with a sharp cricketing brain and captaincy potential.
The ECB is expected to announce a new captain soon, ensuring a smooth transition before England’s next white-ball assignment.
The Road Ahead for Buttler and England
While stepping down from captaincy, Buttler is still very much a key player for England in white-ball cricket. His leadership experience and batting prowess remain valuable assets. The focus will now shift to the ECB’s plans for restructuring the team and identifying a new captain who can revitalize England’s white-ball performances.
For Buttler, the next chapter in his career will likely focus on his batting. Without the added burden of captaincy, he may be able to rediscover his best form with the bat, something England will desperately need in their upcoming tournaments.
Jos Buttler’s resignation
Jos Buttler’s resignation marks the end of an eventful chapter in England’s white-ball cricket. From winning a T20 World Cup in 2022 to enduring frustrating failures in ODIs and T20Is, his tenure has been a roller-coaster ride. His decision to step down is a selfless move aimed at allowing the team a fresh start under new leadership.
While his captaincy era may be over, Buttler’s contributions to England’s white-ball cricket will not be forgotten. As England looks ahead to a new era, the search for a new captain begins—one who can lead the team back to success on the world stage.