Jos Buttler has announced his decision to step down as England’s white-ball captain after the team’s disappointing elimination from the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025. The 34-year-old made the announcement in Karachi ahead of England’s final league game against South Africa.
“It’s the right decision for me, it’s the right decision for the team and hopefully somebody else who can come in and work closely alongside Baz [Brendon McCullum] to take the team back to where it needs to be,” Buttler said in a press conference on Friday, February 28.
Buttler’s resignation follows England’s early exit from the tournament after back-to-back defeats to Australia and Afghanistan in Lahore. The former World Champions were already in poor form leading into the Champions Trophy, having suffered a 0-3 whitewash at the hands of India just a week before the tournament.
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“Yeah, I think it’s quite clear that this tournament was going to be important results-wise for my captaincy and obviously two losses and being out of the tournament with a bit of a hangover of some tournaments before, I think I just probably reached the end of the road for me and my captaincy, which is a shame,” Buttler added.
A Challenging Tenure
Buttler took over as captain of England’s white-ball teams following Eoin Morgan’s retirement in 2022. He immediately led the team to a T20 World Cup victory in Australia later that year. However, the team’s performance declined in the following years. England were eliminated in the group stages of the 2023 ODI World Cup and failed to defend their T20 title, falling to India in the semifinals in Guyana.
In response to the struggling performances, the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) appointed Brendon McCullum as coach of the white-ball teams in 2025, alongside his Test responsibilities. Despite McCullum’s arrival, England’s fortunes did not improve, with the team winning only one of 10 white-ball games this year.
Buttler’s Legacy and McCullum’s Support
Buttler captained England in 44 ODIs and 51 T20Is, with a win rate of 40.9% in ODIs and 50.9% in T20Is. Despite the challenges, McCullum praised Buttler for his commitment and leadership, acknowledging his efforts despite the lack of success.
“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 said.
McCullum also highlighted Buttler’s 2019 World Cup victory, saying, “People forget he won the World Cup a couple of years ago and that can never be taken away from him.” McCullum further expressed his belief that Buttler remains a valuable player for England’s future.
“It’s incredibly unselfish from Jos to step aside and leave the post to someone else. 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,” McCullum added.
Looking Ahead
With Buttler stepping down, England will look to appoint a new white-ball captain as they prepare for the next phase of international cricket. The team will hope for a resurgence under fresh leadership as they move forward from a difficult period in their recent history.
