Jos Buttler Captaincy Retirement ~ Jos Buttler has decided to step down as England’s white-ball captain following the team’s campaign in the ongoing 2025 Champions Trophy. The 34-year-old made the announcement in Karachi ahead of England’s final group-stage match against South Africa.
“I believe this is the right decision for me and for the team. Hopefully, someone else can come in, work closely with Baz [Brendon McCullum], and help take the team back to where it belongs,” Buttler said during a press conference on Friday (February 28).
His decision comes after England’s disappointing early exit from the tournament, following consecutive defeats to Australia and Afghanistan in Lahore. The team had already been struggling in ODIs before the competition, suffering a 0-3 series loss to India just a week before the Champions Trophy in Pakistan and the UAE.
“I knew this tournament was going to be a key test for my captaincy, and after two losses that knocked us out—on top of struggles in previous competitions—I felt like I had reached the end of the road as captain,” Buttler admitted. “It’s a tough moment, and I’m obviously disappointed, but in time, I’ll be able to reflect on what an incredible honor it has been to lead my country.”
Buttler took over as captain in 2022 after Eoin Morgan’s retirement and had immediate success, leading England to victory in the T20 World Cup in Australia later that year. However, the team’s performance declined afterward, as they were eliminated in the group stage of the 2023 ODI World Cup and then lost in the semifinals of their T20 title defense against India in Guyana.
To address England’s struggles, the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) appointed Brendon McCullum as the white-ball coach in 2025, adding to his role as the Test coach. However, the team failed to improve under his and Buttler’s leadership, losing nine out of ten white-ball matches since the start of the year.
In his tenure, Buttler led England in 44 ODIs and 51 T20Is, winning 18 and 26 games, respectively. His overall record places him with one of the lowest win-loss ratios among England captains with at least 15 matches in charge.
“I’m obviously disappointed. I was really looking forward to working closely with Brendon and hoped we could turn things around quickly, but it just hasn’t worked out,” Buttler said. “At this point, I feel it’s the right time for both me and the team to move on.”
Jos Buttler Captaincy Retirement
