Wicket-keeper batsman Jos Buttler has been named the new England white-ball captain, taking over from Eoin Morgan who retired from international cricket earlier this week.
Arguably the greatest limited-overs batsman England has ever had, Buttler had been Morgan’s deputy for over seven years and was seen as the heir apparent to Morgan’s role. Buttler, 31, had previously stood in as England captained in 9 ODIs and 5 T20Is, most recently in the third ODI against the Netherlands in Amstelveen.
“I would like to offer my sincere thanks and gratitude to Eoin Morgan for his outstanding leadership over the past seven years,” Buttler said after his appointment. “It has been the most memorable period for everyone involved. He has been an inspirational leader, and it has been fantastic to play under him. There are lots of things that I have learnt from him that I’ll take into this role.
“It is a great honour to take over from Eoin, and the place he has left English white-ball cricket in is exciting, and I’m inspired for the challenges ahead.”
Jos Buttler to lead England vs India
Buttler’s immediate challenge ahead is 3 T20Is and 3 ODIs against India, for which the England squad will be announced on Friday. In the larger picture, Buttler and new white-ball coach Matthew Mott will be eyeing the T20 World Cup later in the year in Australia and the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, where England, the 2019 Champions, will defend their title, followed by another T20 World Cup in West Indies and the USA in 2024.
“There is excellent strength-in-depth in the white-ball squads, and I’m looking forward to leading the teams out for the series that are coming up against India starting next week and later in July against South Africa. It is the greatest honour to captain your country, and when I have had the chance to step in the past, I have loved doing it. I can’t wait to take this team forward,” Buttler added.
Buttler was the perfect choice to succeed Eoin Morgan: Rob Key
Buttler was recommended for the role by England’s managing director of men’s cricket Rob Key, and approved by the ECB’s interim chair, Martin Darlow, and chief executive, Clare Connor.
Rob Key hailed Buttler the “perfect choice” as the successor of Morgan.
“Jos Buttler was the perfect choice to succeed Eoin Morgan as our white-ball captain, and I had no hesitation in offering him the role,” he said. “Jos has been part of our white-ball set-up for over a decade and was integral in the transformation of the way the team has played its attacking brand of cricket over the past seven years,” Key said.
“He is well respected in the dressing room by all of his teammates and will relish leading his country. He is in the form of his life and is showcasing his talent against the best players and teams in the world. I believe the extra responsibility will take his game to a new level and inspire those around him. I’m looking forward to seeing him take us forward. He thoroughly deserves the opportunity.”
Buttler made his white-ball debut in 2011 and has represented England in 151 ODIs scoring 4120 runs at an average of 41 and strike rate of 121, with 10 hundreds. In T20Is, Butter has amassed 2140 runs at an average of 34 and strike rate of 141 in 80 innings; Buttler is regarded as perhaps the current best T20 opener in the world and finished with the Orange Cap in the IPL 2022 for RR.
He’s also one of the only three English cricketers (Dawid Malan and Heather Knight being the other two) to have scored hundreds in all three formats of the game. However, now with being ascended as the white-ball captain, Buttler is unlikely to return to the Test side again.
