Jos Buttler has stressed his desire to remain captain in both white-ball formats after a Ben Stokes-inspired win over the Netherlands hauled England from the foot of the World Cup table.
Raiding 108 from 78 balls, Stokes ensured a mid-innings wobble did not end with a repeat of some of the harrowing scenes witnessed during this failed title defence. England, up to seventh in the group thanks to an improved net run rate, have put hopes of a Champions Trophy berth for 2025 back in their own hands at least.
Rob Key, England’s director of men’s cricket, is set to join the touring party in Kolkata before Saturday’s final fixture against Pakistan and establish what has gone so badly wrong. With two squads to be selected for the ODI and T20 tour of the Caribbean next month, Buttler says he is keen to lead a potential reboot.
“Yeah, I’d like to,” said Buttler, when asked whether he wanted to both play and captain the two limited-overs teams in their next assignment. “I know Rob Key arrives into India so, yeah, we can have some good conversations with him and the coach [Matthew Mott] and everyone and make a plan for that tour. But I’d like to.”
On his side’s second win, which owed plenty to the sheer will of Stokes and a calm 51 from Chris Woakes, a relieved Buttler said: “Any time you need someone to stand up with the team under pressure, [Stokes] has had a history of always doing that. We’re very lucky to have him in the team and I thought his innings today was exceptional.”
Key will still need to look Buttler in the eye and decide whether the strains of leadership are now compromising the batter. Having departed for just five in the 160-run win in Pune, Buttler now has one innings before the team’s flight home to improve a campaign that has returned 43 in the first outing against New Zealand and precious little since.
Buttler said: “You want to lead from the front and do that in your own performance. So, yeah, I’m very frustrated, again, not to contribute. But I’ll stick to the stuff that’s served me well over a long period of time when I’ve had these little runs of form and hopefully come out the other side of it very soon.”
While England will use their next tour as preparation for the T20 World Cup defence in the Caribbean and USA next year – a trophy Buttler lifted in Australia 12 months ago – the selection panel is likely to shake up the 50-over squad with fresh faces.
One player who will not feature is Stokes. The 32-year-old is set to undergo surgery to address his longstanding knee problem after the squad’s return home in a bid to return to all-rounder status. After taking on Pakistan this weekend, leading the Test side for their five-match series in India early next year comes next. Asked if he considered bringing the operation forward and flying home once hopes of a semi-final berth were dashed, Stokes added: “No. [I] don’t leave anyone hanging.”
On his role in the win in Pune, Stokes continued: “I’m more pleased for us to get a victory over the line, it’s been a tough World Cup and nice to get back to winning ways today. Me and [Woakes] just built a partnership. I use the scoreboard as my friend a lot. Whenever pressure feels like it’s building or if it is, I just look up and you realise you’ve got more time than you think. Chris is a genuine all-rounder for us. He’s a very, very experienced cricketer.”
