Speaking after England’s Champions Trophy elimination, Jos Buttler said that he and the team management would “consider all possibilities” over their futures, but stopped short of stepping down, saying he did not want to make “an emotional decision".
Defeat to Afghanistan, England’s sixth in a row in ODIs, consigned them to elimination from cricket’s second-most prestigious 50-over global event, having conceded a record chase to Australia in their opening game of the competition. After starting his tenure by winning the 2022 T20 World Cup, Buttler has overseen consecutive limp title defences before exiting the Champions Trophy at the earliest possible opportunity.
Buttler’s own form has suffered as well. He averages 35.65 since taking over as full-time captain, compared to 41.20 beforehand, and has at times looked beleaguered with the pressures of the job.
Speaking in the presentation after the game, Buttler was asked directly whether he would continue as England captain. “I don’t want to say any emotional statements now, but I think for myself and the guys at the top, we should consider all possibilities,” he said.
While Brendon McCullum is new in the role, having added the white-ball job to his Test responsibilities at the start of 2025, England have now lost nine out of 10 games under his tenure, with questions raised over their gameplan and team make-up, with several grandstanding statements from players to the media also prompting criticism.
England’s Champions Trophy campaign will conclude against South Africa on Saturday, March 1.
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