Less than a month after a disappointing showing at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, England skipper Jos Buttler is ready to turn the page and lead a revamped ODI squad to the West Indies.
Despite narrowly securing a place at the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy following a seventh-place finish at the World Cup, Buttler remains optimistic about the team’s future. He acknowledged the World Cup as a “one bad tournament” and emphasized the team’s strong foundation in white-ball cricket.
“We have had one bad tournament,” Buttler stated ahead of the first ODI in Antigua. “It’s been in a great place for a long time, and you see the depth of talent of guys coming through, and you want to help shape that period of white-ball cricket. That’s something I feel responsibility and motivation for – to get England white-ball cricket back to where it’s been for a long time.”
Buttler reflected on his growth as a leader, recognizing the importance of balancing individual performance with the team’s overall success. He emphasized the need for a clear mind when stepping onto the field, using the World Cup experience as a catalyst for future growth.
“That’s a big learning for me,” he admitted. “Managing my own game is vital to the team, and just finding different ways to do that to allow me to walk to the middle with a clear mind. [And] realizing that sort of tournament doesn’t define you. I’ve got to use it as motivation and hunger to push myself and the team forward and take the learnings from that. Use it as a positive experience to go into the rest of my career.”
At this stage of his career, with a young family to cherish, Buttler has developed a healthier perspective on the highs and lows of the game. He finds solace in his family and recognizes that setbacks are just temporary.
“I’m at the stage of my life and career where I have got good perspective,” Buttler explained. “I get home, and have got two children who don’t really care about the World Cup. It certainly gives you a nice focus as a dad and those things, but I’m a very proud guy as well, and have disappointments. But you know, life moves on, the world moves on pretty fast. There’s always something to look forward to. It’s never as bad as you think it is, and it’s never as good as you think it is.”
Leading a relatively new squad with only six players from the World Cup campaign, Buttler is excited about the potential of the young talents. He sees the blend of experience and fresh faces as a recipe for success.
“There’s some really exciting talent in this team,” Buttler said. “Young guys eager to get their opportunities and perform. There are some guys that have not been exposed to ODI cricket a lot but have a lot of experience in Test cricket, so not necessarily new to the international game. It’s a nice blend.”
Phil Salt and Will Jacks have been confirmed as openers for the first ODI, while the bowling lineup remains under wraps. The series kicks off on Sunday, December 3, in North Sound, Antigua.
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