Former England captains Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton slammed Jos Buttler’s management after the workforce’s beautiful Champions Trophy 2025 exit on Wednesday, following their eight-run defeat to Afghanistan in Lahore.
England’s string of defeats prolonged to seven straight matches for the reason that India tour underneath Buttler’s management, with the captain himself struggling to contribute with the bat, scoring 23 and 38 in two video games towards Australia and Afghanistan.
In a post-match chat with Atherton, Buttler conceded that he’ll take time to replicate on his place after heading again house. In the meantime, Atherton and Hussain remarked that the captaincy tag by no means actually suited Buttler, who took over from Eoin Morgan in mid-2022.
“I believe his time is completed as captain,” Atherton mentioned on Sky Sports activities. “I believe that’s most likely proper. England do decide themselves on these ICC occasions, they’ve made that very clear, that as a result of they arrive alongside so often now, they construct in direction of these tournaments.
“However England have had three unhealthy ones in a row now, the disastrous 50-over World Cup in India, a poor T20 World Cup within the Caribbean – the place they made the semis however they didn’t beat anyone of word by way of it – and now right here, and their cricket is method beneath the requirements which they set themselves.
“Generally you simply should say it’s not working and subsequently it’s time for a change and time for any individual else, and I believe deep down, he most likely is aware of that,” Atherton added.
In the meantime, Hussain mentioned that Buttler couldn’t command a persona like Morgan on the sector whereas main the facet.
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“I’ve by no means checked out Buttler and thought ‘wow what a frontrunner,’ he doesn’t have that presence within the discipline that an Eoin Morgan had,” Hussain mentioned. “That’s a foul comparability since you’re speaking about England’s greatest-ever white-ball captain, and he was a tough act to observe.
“So far as captaincy goes, I don’t suppose Buttler has added that a lot to this England workforce, nevertheless it’s taken away from his batting. And once you add the 2 collectively, take away from an important participant and also you’re not gaining with management and captaincy, I believe it’s most likely time to maneuver on.”
