Jos Buttler returns: proving his place as England white-ball cricket captain
England’s white-ball cricket team will return from the West Indies feeling somewhat lukewarm about their performance.
A disappointing 2-1 loss in the ODI leg set a poor tone for the tour. However, Jos Buttler resumed his captaincy to lead England to a 3-1 victory in the T20I leg – their first away series win in the format in two years.
After a four-month injury, Buttler’s comeback started shakily as he was dismissed for a golden duck in his first innings back. Clearly undeterred, however, he went on to score a spectacular 83 runs off 45 deliveries in the second.
The 34-year-old has already had a stellar career. With 5022 runs in 181 ODIs, he is one of only five English players to surpass 5000 runs in the format. Additionally, his 3389 T20I runs makes him England’s all-time leading scorer by some distance.
As Brendon McCullum told Sky Sports: “I think Jos has had an unbelievable career. If he were to retire tomorrow, he goes down as arguably the greatest white-ball player England has ever had.”
Yet, despite his batting brilliance, Buttler’s captaincy has faced heavy criticism. Since succeeding Eoin Morgan in June 2022, England’s form has plummeted. From their 2019 World Cup triumph to a humiliating group-stage exit in 2023, the ODI team, in particular, has rarely been a joy to behold.
While many factors have contributed to England’s decline, Buttler’s captaincy has drawn significant blame, with many deeming him fortunate to retain the role – especially as head coach Matthew Mott was sacked in July.
However, with Brendon McCullum taking over in January 2025, a resurgence could be on the horizon. Amid uncertainty over the team’s future, one thing should be clear: Jos Buttler remains the right man for the job.
Eoin Morgan: A tough act to follow
When Eoin Morgan replaced Alastair Cook as captain in December 2014, England were crying out for fresh ideas. He brought renewed optimism ahead of the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup – hope that quickly evaporated as England crashed out in the group stage.
The remarkable transformation that followed, however, undoubtedly cemented Morgan’s legacy as England’s greatest ever white-ball captain.
Under his leadership, the culture of the team completely changed. A fearless, aggressive approach was adopted, similar to that of the Test side under Brendon McCullum. England, as a result, reached at least the semi-finals in five successive major tournaments from 2016 to 2022.
Morgan’s crowning moment, of course, came in 2019, when he led England to their first ICC World Cup victory. His bold philosophy on full display in the unforgettable final and Super Over at Lord’s.
Therefore, when he retired in 2022, a void was inevitably left – as a leader, a player and a valuable presence in the dressing room.
Buttler, as vice-captain, was the natural successor. An introvert with a quiet authority, he offers a different yet equally valuable leadership style.
To his credit, Buttler led England to victory in the 2022 ICC T20 World Cup. However, this triumph was only months after Morgan’s retirement and appears to be an anomaly in the team’s subsequent decline.
Following that, their defense of the 50-over World Cup title in 2023 was an embarrassment reminiscent of 2015.
What went wrong?
It is not only the captaincy that changed; England’s scheduling and priorities shifted as well.
White-ball cricket, particularly 50-over, has taken a backseat in recent years. Since Rob Key became managing director in 2022, Test cricket has been prioritised. Whether this is good or bad is debatable, but it has inevitably affected the quality of the white-ball team.
What’s more, top players often miss the white-ball matches that are scheduled due to Test commitments. Joe Root and Ben Stokes, for instance, haven’t played an ODI since facing Pakistan in November 2023.
Harry Brook impressed with a brilliant display against Australia in September, captaining in Buttler’s absence – a performance that even sparked calls for him to take on the role permanently. Yet, Brook too missed the West Indies tour due to the Test series in Pakistan.
Another criticism has been England’s inability to rejuvenate the squad. Since the 2019 World Cup, 25 players have debuted in ODIs, but only five have reached double-digit appearances.
With four debut caps in the West Indies tour alone, and a fairly young and inexperienced side overall, progress may be underway – if it can stick. Even so, this is definitely a welcome contrast to certain XIs in the 2023 World Cup, where England fielded sides made up entirely of players over 30.
A new dawn approaches
England’s final tour before Brendon McCullum takes over produced mixed results, but offered glimpses of a promising future.
Saqib Mahmood, shining with the new ball, took eight of his nine wickets in the opening powerplays. Youngster Jacob Bethell impressed with three bold half-centuries across the tour, embodying a Bazball-style aggression.
Even experienced players, like Liam Livingstone found new heights. Standing in as captain, he smashed 124 runs off 85 deliveries in England’s sole ODI victory.
Meanwhile, Buttler’s decision to hand wicket-keeping duties to Phil Salt seems to have been a good one. Having kept wicket in 106 of his previous 108 T20Is, it was adjustment that paid off, especially with a youthful side that benefitted from his guidance in the field.
Mahmood, after his player of the match performance in the third T20, credited two wickets to Buttler’s sharp advice and field placements.
With McCullum’s imminent arrival as head coach, exciting times could lie ahead for English white-ball cricket – you only have to look at his effect on the test team.
His rapport with Buttler will be crucial, who revealed that stepping away from wicket-keeping was, at least in part, influenced by conversations with McCullum, who made a similar choice when captaining New Zealand.
As Alastair Cook told TNT Sports: “he [McCullum] has an amazing ability to unite a team and get the best out of individuals.”
One of his aims is cheering up Buttler – saying in a press conference: “What I want from Jos is for him to enjoy the next few years and play with a smile on his face.”
The skipper already appears more relaxed, having dropped to No. 3 in the order, to let the openers play freely, knowing his stability follows.
Amid the team’s youth and current instability, Buttler’s experience and sharp cricketing brain are vital for guiding this new era.
With the next T20 World Cup coming up in February 2026, England’s future is looking slightly brighter.
