The new white-ball coach of England has decided to relieve captain Jos Buttler of wicketkeeping duties, aiming to ease the pressure on him and allow him to focus more on his leadership role.
Under Buttler’s captaincy, England has failed to defend two World Cup titles in consecutive years. His recent personal performances have also been underwhelming, leaving his confidence at rock bottom. Brendon McCullum, England’s new white-ball coach, has made it his primary mission to help revive Buttler’s form. McCullum believes Buttler’s best days are still ahead of him.
England won their first ODI World Cup in 2019 under Eoin Morgan, but they failed to retain the title in 2023 under Buttler’s leadership, bowing out in the group stage after a disappointing campaign. Similarly, though Buttler guided England to their second T20 World Cup victory in 2022, the team failed to defend the title last year, losing to India in the semi-finals.
Following these back-to-back failures, then-coach Matthew Mott stepped down from the white-ball coaching role. Last October, McCullum, already England’s Test coach, was handed responsibility for all formats. With McCullum at the helm, England is entering a new era in white-ball cricket, starting with the India tour, which will feature ODIs and T20Is, followed by the Champions Trophy.
Statistics highlight Buttler’s struggles. In his last 15 ODI innings, he has managed only one fifty. He also missed significant playing time due to a muscle injury but showed glimpses of his ability upon his return against the West Indies in a T20 series last November.
England’s India tour begins with a T20 series on Wednesday, and McCullum emphasized in a press conference the day before that his main objective is to bring out the best in Buttler.
“When someone gets the opportunity to lead toward the latter stages of their career, they can sometimes become desperate for success,” McCullum said. “This desperation can lead to frustration, making the game less enjoyable. If instead, they focus on bringing out the best in others, it can often help them feel less burdened and perform better.”
Under McCullum’s coaching, England’s Test team has bounced back from tough times and is now flourishing. Many believe McCullum’s magic touch can similarly transform England’s white-ball cricket.
Since taking charge, McCullum has paid close attention to Buttler. He revealed, “Jos is smiling again, and that’s a great sign. He’s genuinely happy at the moment.”
McCullum’s long-standing friendship with Buttler is another factor that could benefit the team. “Jos and I have been friends for a long time. Even when we didn’t play together, we shared similar philosophies about the game. This friendship has allowed us to work through various aspects of the team quickly. I’m confident we’ll see Jos enjoying his cricket over the next few years,” McCullum said.
For the T20 series against India, Buttler will bat at number three and will not don the wicketkeeping gloves. McCullum believes this decision will benefit Buttler’s leadership.
“This (not keeping wickets) will be a positive change for us. It gives Jos the chance to stay connected with the bowlers and make last-minute adjustments more effectively than he could from 22 yards away,” McCullum explained.
