Jos Buttler has announced that he will step down as England white-ball captain after their final game in the 2025 Champions Trophy against South Africa tomorrow (March 1).
Speaking in the pre-match press conference, Buttler said: "It's the right decision for me. It's the right decision for the team. Hopefully somebody else can come in and work closely with Baz to take the team back to where it needs to be.
"I think it was 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 just probably reached the end of the road for me and my captaincy which is a shame, I'm sad about that.
Buttler's decision comes after England were eliminated from the tournament at the earliest possible point, losing to Afghanistan in Lahore earlier this week. Following the loss, Buttler hinted that he was considering his future as captain, stating that the side "should consider all possibilities".
BREAKING: Jos Buttler has stood down as England white-ball captain, following his side's Champions Trophy exit 🚨 pic.twitter.com/BQ5yiy4yTa
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) February 28, 2025
England's exit from the Champions Trophy was their third consecutive disappointing ICC tournament, after they finished 7th in the 2023 World Cup and lost the semi-final of last year's T20 World Cup heavily to India. Buttler previously captained England to the T20 World Cup title in 2022, and was part of their 2019 World Cup winning squad under Eoin Morgan.
After the 2024 T20 World Cup, Buttler's position was reportedly under threat when there was a significant personnel change in the side. While he was able to keep his position at that point, previous white-ball head coach Matthew Mott resigned, with Brendon McCullum subsequently appointed to the role, fully taking it over earlier this month.
"Obviously with Brendon coming in recently I was really excited to work closely alongside him and hope for a very quick turnaround and take the team forward," said Buttler. "But it's not quite worked out that way. It just feels like it's the right time for me and for the team to have a change.
"Maybe in time it will [feel like a relief]. I think overriding emotions are still sadness and disappointment but I'm sure in time that will pass and I can get back to really enjoying my cricket and also I'll be able to reflect on what an immense honour it is to captain your country and all the special things that come with that."
Buttler will have captained England in 45 ODIs by the end of his captaincy, and, ahead of the South Africa game, has won 18 since he took over as captain on a full time basis in 2022.
Although a successor has not yet been named, vice-captain Harry Brook is the bookies' favourite to take over the role.
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