Atherton and Hussain Claim Buttler's Captaincy is Finished After ICC Champions Trophy Exit
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Synopsis
After England's disappointing exit from the ICC Champions Trophy, former captains Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton criticized Jos Buttler's leadership, suggesting it may be time for a change in white-ball captaincy.
Key Takeaways
- Critique of Jos Buttler's leadership
- England's recent poor performances
- Calls for change in captaincy
- Comparison with Eoin Morgan
- Impact on Buttler's batting
New Delhi, Feb 27 (NationPress) Following England's exit from the ICC Champions Trophy, ex-captains Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton criticized Jos Buttler's leadership and suggested that his time as white-ball captain has come to an end.
After a narrow eight-run defeat to Afghanistan on Wednesday in Lahore, England found themselves out of the Champions Trophy with a match remaining in Group B. This marks the second consecutive men's ODI tournament where they failed to reach the top four.
The loss against Afghanistan in Lahore signifies England's seventh consecutive ODI defeat, highlighting a troubling trend under Buttler's captaincy. Buttler took over the captaincy from Eoin Morgan in mid-2022.
In a discussion on Sky Sports, Atherton was candid, stating that Buttler's time as captain should conclude. “I believe his time as captain is finished. England measures their success by ICC events, and they have now experienced three disappointing tournaments in succession – the disastrous 50-over World Cup in India, a forgettable T20 World Cup in the Caribbean, and now this one.
“Their cricket is significantly below the standards they have set for themselves. Sometimes, acknowledging that something isn’t working is necessary, and I think deep down, Buttler likely realizes that.”
Hussain shared similar views, asserting that Buttler lacks the same leadership presence that his predecessor Morgan exhibited.
“I’ve never looked at Buttler and thought ‘wow, what a leader.’ He doesn’t possess the field presence that Eoin Morgan had. Morgan was England’s greatest white-ball captain, and following him was always going to be a tough task.
“Buttler hasn’t contributed significantly to this England team as captain, which has also impacted his batting. When you diminish a great player's strengths without gaining anything in return from their leadership, it may be time to move forward,” Hussain remarked.
Since Buttler assumed the white-ball leadership for England post-Morgan's retirement in 2022, England was eliminated in the group stage of the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, barely made it to the semifinals of the 2024 T20 World Cup before being ousted by South Africa, and now they face an early exit from the Champions Trophy.
