What lies ahead for Jos Buttler? England captain contemplates future
What's the story
England's Jos Buttler has asserted that he would "consider all possibilities" about his future as white-ball captain.
The latest disappointment came in the form of an eight-run defeat to Afghanistan in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy in Lahore on Wednesday. England have been eliminated from the tournament.
This was England's ninth defeat in their last 10 white-ball games.
"It's tough to say, stood here right now, and I don't want to make any emotional statements," Buttler told Sky Sports.
Performance review
How has Buttler fared as skipper?
Buttler's captaincy has been a mixed bag. He guided England to the 2022 T20 World Cup title, marking his first ICC tournament as captain.
However, the team has faltered since, losing six matches at the 2023 ODI World Cup and suffering a humiliating defeat against India in the 2024 T20 World Cup semi-finals.
The recent Champions Trophy exit followed back-to-back defeats against Australia and Afghanistan.
Captain's thoughts
Buttler's reflections on captaincy and team performance
Buttler admitted he feared for his job after the departure of England's coach, Matthew Mott, after the 2024 T20 World Cup.
He has since led the team on a challenging eight-game tour to India where they won once.
"I've enjoyed it [the captaincy]. I've seen lots of people say it doesn't sit well with me, but I do enjoy it," Buttler said.
Despite the pressure, he remains focused on positives and is determined to lead his team toward success.
Future prospects
Who can replace Buttler?
As per ESPNcricinfo, after their match against South Africa on Saturday, England's next limited-overs fixtures are scheduled for June against West Indies.
Harry Brook, who captained England in an ODI series against Australia last September, could be a possible Buttler successor. The former is also the official vice-captain at the Champions Trophy
Notably, Liam Livingstone and Phil Salt have also stepped up for Buttler in the past.
Information
England under downward spiral
As mentioned, England have lost nine of their last 10 limited-overs contests. Their dismal run includes four T20I defeats (to India) and five losses in ODIs (three to India and one each to Australia and Afghanistan). Moreover, England have now suffered six successive ODI defeats, their most since September 2009, as per Cricbuzz.