England have been knocked out of the Champions Trophy after suffering an eight-run defeat against Afghanistan in Lahore. The damaging defeat could be the final nail in the coffin of the 34-year-old's white-ball captaincy.
Things started well under Buttler’s captaincy, with England winning the 2022 T20 World Cup. However, a run of poor results has left him under severe pressure. This ICC Champions Trophy exit followed a run of six defeats in nine fixtures in the 2023 ODI World Cup and a pasting at the hands of India in the 2024 T20 World Cup semi-final.
Speaking after the Afghanistan game he hinted at potentially stepping down as skipper, “I don’t want to make any sort of emotional statements, but I think it’s fair to say that you got to sort of consider all possibilities.”
There’s no doubt that Buttler still has much to offer English cricket. At his belligerent best, he’s the sort of player who can take the game away from the opposition in no time at all. Perhaps he can get back to his best without the added responsibility of the captaincy?
So who could take over? Michael Atherton already has a replacement in mind.. “Just thinking about it, there isn’t that much choice. Harry Brook did it quite well, I thought, in the Australia series, the 50-over series that ended the summer, and it’s hard to think beyond him.”
England’s final group game in the Champions Trophy is against South Africa on Saturday.
South Africa and England have faced each other four times in the ICC Champions Trophy. They first played against each other back in 1998 later in 2000, 2009, and 2013. Both teams have secured two victories each out of four games.
