Jos Buttler Archives

Babar Azam levels Jos Buttler’s T20 record during BBL 15 clash

MELBOURNE: Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam etched his name alongside former England captain Jos Buttler in the record books after producing a decisive knock during the Big Bash League (BBL) 15 encounter at Docklands Stadium on Thursday.

Representing Sydney Sixers against Melbourne Renegades, Babar anchored the chase with a composed unbeaten 58 off 46 deliveries, an innings laced with four boundaries and a six.

The knock not only guided the Sixers to a six-wicket win but also marked Babar’s 97th half-century in T20 cricket.

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With that effort, the former Pakistan skipper drew level with Buttler for the joint third-most fifties in the history of the shortest format.

Notably, Babar reached the milestone in just his 333rd T20 appearance, scoring 11 centuries along the way, while Buttler took 476 matches to get the same tally, with eight hundreds.

The all-time record for most T20 half-centuries remains with Australian great David Warner, who has amassed 113 fifties, followed by India’s Virat Kohli with 105.

Most T20 fifties:

David Warner – 113
Virat Kohli – 105
Babar Azam – 97
Jos Buttler – 97
Alex Hales – 92

Babar’s latest innings also took his overall tally of 50-plus scores in T20 cricket to 108, comprising 97 half-centuries and 11 hundreds.

He is currently fourth on the all-time list for most 50+ scores in the format, behind Warner (121), Kohli (114) and Chris Gayle (110).

Babar’s knock proved the difference as Sydney Sixers sealed their second win of the BBL 15 campaign, climbing to fifth on the points table.

Melbourne Renegades, meanwhile, remain seventh with just one victory, sitting above only Sydney Thunder.

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Buttler ranks Pant above Dhoni among top five wicketkeepers

England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler has hailed India’s Rishabh Pant as one of the best in the world, placing him at the very top during a blind ranking challenge conducted by British media during The Hundred.

Buttler was presented with an intriguing challenge: to rank five renowned wicketkeepers from various cricketing eras, all without prior knowledge of the complete list of names.

The selections provided to him included prominent figures such as Rishabh Pant, the legendary MS Dhoni, the versatile AB de Villiers, the dynamic Quinton de Kock, and, interestingly, himself.

The former England cricket captain designated Rishabh Pant as his top choice, highlighting the Indian batter’s impressive performances in recent matches.

Following closely behind at the second spot was South African star Quinton de Kock, who has also shone brightly in the international arena.

Interestingly, Buttler placed the legendary Indian wicketkeeper-batter MS Dhoni at number four, a decision that raised eyebrows given Dhoni’s iconic status in cricket history.

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As Buttler moved down the list, he encountered the name of AB de Villiers. It was at this moment that he admitted to having “messed up” the order, ultimately deciding to slot the South African cricketing great into the third position.

In a humble conclusion to his ranking exercise, Buttler positioned himself at the bottom of the list.

Speaking after the challenge, Jos Buttler reflected on his admiration for MS Dhoni.

“MS is quite an amazing cricketer. I love the way he leaves people guessing; he doesn’t ride on emotions and always seems one step ahead,” he said.

“He intrigued me with his thinking and the way he made things simple. During the IPL in 2020, I was fortunate to receive his jersey, which was really special.”

READ: Two Pakistan legends named in Lockie Ferguson’s all-time Top Five Test Pacers

Pakistani-origin Italy batter Zain Naqvi reveals his cricketing idols

Pakistani-origin Italy batter Zain Naqvi has named Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam and England’s explosive wicketkeeper Jos Buttler as his cricketing idols.

Italy recently created history by securing qualification for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, their first-ever appearance at the global event.

They finished second in the Europe Region Final, with the Netherlands topping the table. The 2026 edition of the tournament will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

In an exclusive conversation with ARY News, Zain said qualifying for the mega event had been a collective dream and the result of year-long preparation.

“Our team had one goal, to qualify for the [T20] World Cup,” he said.

“We’ve been preparing for the qualifiers for over a year. Beating Scotland was a major achievement for us.”

Naqvi, who originally hails from Kot Jaffar, a village in Mandi Bahauddin, Pakistan, moved to Italy with his parents at the age of 12.

He shared that his grandfather had always dreamt of seeing him play international cricket for Italy.

“I started with tape-ball cricket, like most of the Pakistani community here,” he said.

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“Eventually, I moved into professional cricket and earned my place in the national side through consistent performances in domestic competitions.”

Zain Naqvi admitted that cricket still trails far behind football in terms of popularity in Italy, and acknowledged it will take time for the sport to grow.

“Cricket doesn’t get much attention here; most people are focused on football,” he said.

“Italy doesn’t get many international fixtures from the ICC either, but now that we’ve qualified for the World Cup, we hope to get more opportunities.”

He added that efforts are underway to promote the game at the grassroots level across Italy.

“We’re actively working to promote cricket at the grassroots level,” he added.

When asked about his cricketing idols, Zain named Babar Azam as his favourite player, while also revealing that he models his batting style after England’s white-ball captain Jos Buttler.

“I really admire Babar Azam,” he said. “And in terms of playing style, I try to follow Jos Buttler.”

READ: India suffer double injury blow ahead of fourth England Test

Quetta Gladiators’ batter joins Gujarat Titans as Jos Buttler’s replacement

Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Mendis has been roped in by Gujarat Titans as a replacement for Jos Buttler ahead of the IPL 2025 playoffs.

Mendis, who recently turned heads with his performances for Quetta Gladiators in PSL 10, will be making his IPL debut after years of going unsold at auctions.

The 29-year-old scored 143 runs at a strike rate of 168 across five outings in the PSL, where he also kept wickets and added crucial impetus to the Quetta Gladiators’ middle order.

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With Buttler unavailable due to England’s ODI series against West Indies, scheduled to begin on May 29, the same day as the IPL playoffs, Gujarat were in the market for a seasoned replacement, and Mendis’ recent form made him a compelling pick.

Sources suggest that Kusal Mendis opted out of returning to Pakistan for the remainder of the PSL due to security concerns and instead chose to take up the IPL offer.

He is currently awaiting his Indian visa and is expected to join the Titans by Saturday.

Though Gujarat already have Anuj Rawat and Kumar Kushagra as wicketkeeping options, Mendis’ current touch with the bat brings added depth and experience heading into the business end of the season.

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Ben Stokes likely to replace Jos Buttler as England white-ball captain

England cricket supremo Rob Key said on Thursday “it would be stupid” to rule Test captain Ben Stokes out of consideration for the role of skipper of the struggling white-ball team.

Jos Buttler stood down last week following a poor display by the side at the ongoing 50-over ICC Champions Trophy 2025 tournament in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where his team lost all three of their group games.

England have now suffered 10 defeats in 11 white-ball fixtures this year.

Vice-captain Harry Brook had appeared to be the heir apparent to Buttler, but he is likely to be a mainstay in all three international formats, meaning a formidable workload.

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) managing director for men’s cricket Rob Key is considering his options for the role of white-ball captain, which include expanding Stokes’s remit.

The 33-year-old Durham all-rounder has proved himself an inspirational captain since succeeding Joe Root as Test skipper. But his age and injury problems mean he has largely operated as a Test specialist for 16 months.

Appointing Ben Stokes as limited-overs captain would mean extending his “Bazball” alliance with Brendon McCullum, now the coach of England’s white-ball teams as well as being in charge of the Test side.

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“I think nothing’s off the table really,” Key told reporters at Lord’s. “Ben Stokes is one of the best captains I’ve ever seen. It would be stupid not to look at him. It’s just the knock-on effect of what that means.”

Stokes, currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, has not played a Twenty20 international since the T20 World Cup final in November 2022 and has not featured in a one-day international since the 2023 50-over World Cup in India.

Former England batsman Key acknowledged that England’s limited-overs form had declined sharply and their batting had “fallen off a cliff”.

England won the ODI World Cup under the captaincy of Eoin Morgan in 2019 and triumphed at the T20 World Cup under Buttler three years later. But they have slumped to seventh in the ODI rankings and are third in the T20I rankings.

“We were very poor in the Champions Trophy,” said Key. “But the truth is, we haven’t been particularly good in white-ball cricket, probably since the last era when (retired captain) Eoin Morgan did it.”

England have been criticised for pursuing an ultra-aggressive approach under McCullum, regardless of the match situation, but Key said the former New Zealand captain’s coaching methods were more nuanced.

“It’s not true that the only thing he (McCullum) says is go harder, go harder, go harder,” said Key. “He speaks all the time about soaking up pressure as well.”

READ: Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub among Pakistan players to enter The Hundred 2025 Draft

Nasser Hussain names Jos Buttler’s replacement for England’s captaincy

Former England captain and renowned commentator Nasser Hussain has thrown his support behind Harry Brook to replace Jos Buttler as the country’s new white-ball captain after the disastrous ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign.

Buttler, who led England to ICC T20 World Cup glory in 2022, has now endured three disappointing major tournaments as captain.

Following England’s early exit from the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, the 34-year-old officially stepped down as captain, leaving England in search of a new leader.

Nasser Hussain, in his column for the Daily Mail, backed Brook as the best available option, citing England’s limited captaincy choices due to the lack of domestic 50-over cricket.

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“Harry Brook would be my choice as England’s next limited-overs captain now it’s clearly time to move on from Jos Buttler,” he wrote.

“If you’re having to think about being England captain, as Buttler said he would be after Champions Trophy elimination earlier this week, you probably know you’re done.”

However, while advocating for Brook, Hussain also pointed out the challenges of appointing him, especially with England’s packed Test calendar, which includes a home series against India and the Ashes.

“There would be issues with appointing Brook. In such an important year, do you really want to pass on all the burdens of leading a struggling side to a young man and make his life more difficult? England are trying to play a lot of their Test players in white-ball cricket, but do they want their captain to be part of that as well?” he questioned.

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Harry Brook has been Buttler’s deputy since January but has struggled to balance his role, managing just one half-century in his last 10 white-ball games.

Despite this, Nasser Hussain recalled Brook’s previous leadership experiences and praised his ability to handle dual responsibilities.

“I enjoyed watching him captain last year, whether it be in the Hundred or against Australia, when he scored a hundred in one of the games – which suggested he was quite happy balancing the two roles,” he added.

“But you’ve still got to be careful. You don’t want to weigh down a very talented young player with it all.”

READ: Former Pakistan captain calls for complete overhaul after Champions Trophy exit

Jos Buttler steps down as England white-ball captain after Champions Trophy debacle

England skipper Jos Buttler has resigned as white-ball captain after the team’s group-stage exit in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

England ended their dismal campaign in eight- team tournament with defeats against Australia and Afghanistan.

Buttler announced his decision in a press conference on the eve of the team’s last group game, against South Africa.

He stated that resigning from captaincy was the right choice for both himself and the team.

“I’m going to stand down as England captain, it’s the right decision for me and the right decision for the team. Hopefully,somebody else who can come in alongside Baz [Brendon McCullum] will take the team to where it needs to be.” he stated.

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The 34-year-old batter who took over the captaincy from Eoin Morgan in 2022, further mentioned that he intends to continue playing for England and wants to wants to focus enjoying my cricket.

“I want to get back to really enjoying my cricket. The overriding emotions are still sadness and disappointment,” he remarked.

“I’m sure, in time, that will pass and I can get back to really enjoying my cricket, and [will] also be able to reflect on what an immense honour it is to captain your country and all the special things that come with it,” Buttler said.

Under Buttler’s captaincy, England won the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia. However, team has struggled since then.

Now, after three unsuccessful ICC events—the 2023 50-over World Cup, the 2024 T20 World Cup, and the 2025 Champions Trophy—Buttler has decided to step down.

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The explosive batter has led England in 44 ODIs, managing only 18 wins and suffering 25 losses.

On the contrary, he has a better record in the T20Is. Buttler has captained England in 51 T20 matches, winning 26 and losing 22. The World Cup triumph remains the most significant achievement of his captaincy tenure.

Earlier, following the defeat against Afghanistan, Buttler hinted about his future as captain in a post-match press conference, stating that he would “consider all possibilities.”

READ: Champions Trophy: Sediqullah’s 85, Omarzai’s 67 lift Afghanistan to 273 against Australia

Champions Trophy: Jos Buttler opens up on captaincy future after Afghanistan loss

LAHORE: England skipper Jos Buttler opened up on his captaincy future after Afghanistan knocked his team out of the tournament in the eighth match of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 here at Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.

Chasing a daunting total of 326 in a virtual knockout, England were bowled out on 317 in 49.5 overs. Afghanistan Azmatullah Omarzai starred with the ball, taking a five-wicket haul.

With this victory, Afghanistan kept their hopes alive for the Champions Trophy, while England, the runners-up in 2004 and 2013, were eliminated from the tournament after losing their first two matches.

Following the defeat, Buttler, in a post-match press conference, stated that he would “consider all possibilities.”

“It’s tough to say, stood here right now, and I don’t want to make any sort of emotional statements.”

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“But I think it’s fair to say that you’ve got to consider all possibilities,” Buttler said.

He emphasized the joys and challenges of being a captain, as well as the current form of the England team.

“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. I enjoy the challenge.”

“Obviously I don’t enjoy losing games of cricket and the results. And of course when they’re not going well, you do look at yourself in the mirror and say, ‘Am I part of the problem or am I part of the solution?’ I think that’s what I’ve got to work out.” he remarked.

Jos Buttler further asserted that his future as a captain is not in his hands and will take a little time to think about the leadership role.

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“You [the press] are probably not the first people I’d discuss that with,” he said. “I’ll take a little bit of time to work out, personally, what I think is right, and obviously, the guys at the top are in charge, and they’ll have their own views as well.” the skipper concluded.

For the unversed, Jos Buttler guided England to victory in the 2022 T20 World Cup, his first tournament as captain.

However, the team has struggled since then, losing six of nine matches in the 2023 ODI World Cup.

The team experienced a heavy defeat to India in the semifinals of the 2024 T20 World Cup and is now being knocked out of the Champions Trophy with one group match left, having lost consecutively to Australia and Afghanistan.

READ: Champions Trophy: Afghanistan script iconic victory over England in last-over thriller

Champions Trophy: Jos Buttler confident of England’s comeback against Afghanistan

LAHORE: England captain Jos Buttler is hopeful for a strong comeback in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 clash against Afghanistan, scheduled to be played in Lahore on 26 February.

While speaking at a pre-match press conference, Buttler expressed disappointment over the injury of fast-bowling all-rounder Brydon Carse.

“It’s unfortunate to lose Brydon Carse at this stage,but that’s part of the game,” he said.

England’s team lost against Australia in their Champions Trophy opener after posting a mammoth 352-run total. However, the England team captain remains confident that his team will perform well against Afghanistan.

“We will try not to repeat our mistakes and play good cricket. Obviously, It is difficult to set a target on this pitch.”

“I am hopeful both teams will play quality cricket,” said Buttler.

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He also reflected on the difficulties Afghan women face in education and sports.

“Women in Afghanistan are facing challenges; we hope that tomorrow’s encounter can be a source of hope for their betterment,” Buttler remarked.

When asked about Harry Brook’s form, Butler backed him as one of the best young batters in the world.

“I am not worried about Harry’s form; we all know that he is one of the world’s best batters right now,” he added.

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Jos Buttler also supported the fast bowlers despite their struggle to contain the Australian batters while defending a big total.

“The Australian batters played well; one big innings turned the match. We made some mistakes in the first match, but we will try not to repeat them and will bounce back against Afghanistan,” he concluded

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Champions Trophy: Jos Buttler banks on PSL experience ahead of Australia match

LAHORE: England captain Jos Buttler has emphasized the importance of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) experience ahead of their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opener against Australia.

Speaking to the media in Lahore, Buttler expressed confidence in his side while acknowledging the challenges posed by local conditions.

“We had a few practice sessions in Lahore, which have been quite beneficial,” he said. “Our top three batters are in great form, and we’ll be looking to step onto the field with a solid combination.”

With England set to face tough competition, Jos Buttler highlighted the significance of putting runs on the board.

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“We will try to score as many runs as possible to put pressure on the opposition,” he added.

He recognized the challenges his team faced during their time in India, where the conditions proved difficult and unfavourable.

Nevertheless, he expressed optimism that the valuable experience his teammates gained while competing in the PSL would serve as a crucial advantage.

“The conditions here in Pakistan will be different from India,” he stated. “However, we have players in our squad who have played in the PSL, and they are sharing their experience with us, which is proving to be valuable.”

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England will kick off their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign on February 22 against arch-rivals Australia at Lahore’s newly renovated Gaddafi Stadium.

The second group match will be against Afghanistan on February 26, also at Gaddafi Stadium, while their final group stage encounter is scheduled for March 1 against South Africa at the National Stadium in Karachi.

It’s worth noting that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on 20 February revealed their Playing XI for the match against Australia.

England Playing XI for Australia clash: Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith (wk), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (c), Liam Livingstone, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid and Mark Wood.

READ: Former Pakistan captain offers valuable advice to Imam-ul-Haq ahead of India clash