England coach Brendon McCullum expressed sadness over Jos Buttler’s resignation as the white-ball captain, emphasizing circumstances rather than captaincy flaws for England’s struggles in recent ICC events. Buttler faced challenges with limited player availability, leading to multiple series losses. McCullum highlighted Buttler’s contributions and indicated that his successor should avoid similar difficulties, as he aims to balance attention across formats. While Harry Brook is favored to replace Buttler, no final decision has been made yet. McCullum praised Buttler for fostering new leaders within the squad and stressed the importance of supporting the next captain for improved performance.
McCullum indicated that the challenges Buttler faced while leading his team were more responsible for the outcome than any flaws in his captaincy. Throughout England’s struggles in white-ball ICC tournaments since their triumph in the 2022 T20I World Cup, Buttler often found himself leading teams on bilateral tours that were far from full strength.
As he discussed England’s next white-ball captain, McCullum acknowledged these circumstances, emphasizing his aim to avoid placing the new captain in similar difficult situations. “That’s something Keysy [Rob Keys] and I, along with the ECB, are trying to ensure—giving every format the attention it needs,” he mentioned. “Finding that balance can be tricky at times.”
Since becoming Test coach in 2022, McCullum had access to a full roster of players for that format. However, with all three formats now under his supervision, he suggested that full availability for Test cricket may not be guaranteed going forward.
“Reflecting on the recent series, one could argue the case for resting certain players for specific Test series to balance things across formats,” he explained. “Allow us a couple of weeks to analyze what has transpired, identify areas where we fell short and where we performed decently, and determine how we want to proceed. We have a couple of months before our next assignment, so there’s some time to sort that out.”
McCullum consistently returned to the subject of Buttler’s captaincy, believing it would be viewed more favorably than the raw results might indicate. He asserted that Buttler had laid a strong foundation for his successor, comparing it to the state of the England Test side after Joe Root’s resignation as Test captain in 2022 following a string of lackluster results.
“I told the boys in the team room tonight that sometimes, it’s not just about the time spent in the role and the outcomes during that period. The impact you create in leadership roles can be felt long after you leave the position, and I’m confident that will be the case. Joe Root exemplified that with the Test captaincy; he managed to maintain some stability under incredibly challenging circumstances, and then Ben Stokes’s performance uplift followed that. I hope to see a similar effect in the white-ball teams, whenever we decide who that individual will be.”
The ECB envisioned that pairing Buttler with McCullum—two inherently attacking white-ball players—would unlock England’s white-ball potential similarly to how Eoin Morgan did post-2015 World Cup. Yet, as results declined, both England and McCullum were criticized for adopting what many viewed as a simplistic approach, not fully aligning with the specific skills of the players in England’s white-ball squads.
McCullum firmly rejected that notion, highlighting the narrow margins England experienced in the tournament. “We’ve had chances and played some decent cricket,” he noted, “and in both games, we could have emerged victorious, which would change the narrative significantly. I genuinely believe there’s immense talent in English cricket across all formats.”
“In reality, we’re suffering from a lack of confidence. There’s a common perception that we’re a carefree, arrogant team, but the truth is quite the opposite. These players are extremely hard on themselves; they possess immense talent but feel a deep desire to perform. This pressure is actually hindering our ability to achieve the desired outcomes. They care immensely—which isn’t a negative trait. They are simply eager to succeed and honor their supporters. Unless we reach a point where they can play without carrying that disappointment, we will continue to hinder our progress. That’s our challenge in the coming period.”
While Harry Brook is the frontrunner to replace Buttler, McCullum stated that England had yet to choose a successor. He noted that Buttler’s resignation “came a bit sooner than expected,” but also emphasized the presence of strong personalities within the England squad.
“There are some excellent leaders emerging,” McCullum remarked. “This reflects Jos’s captaincy: he fostered leadership among the group. These individuals may not be seasoned players, but they are young talents with substantial cricket knowledge, encouraged by him to grow and develop as leaders. When we do select a successor, we must ensure they receive the right support to enhance our performances.”
Danyal Rasool is ESPNcricinfo’s Pakistan correspondent. @Danny61000