England in India: Jos Buttler could be in prime - Brendon McCullum
2025-01-20
Category: sports

A "smiling" Jos Buttler could have his "best years ahead of him" for England, says new white-ball coach Brendon McCullum.A new era of England's white-ball cricket begins with the tour of India that starts on Wednesday, with Test coach McCullum taking charge of the T20 and 50-over sides for the first time.Skipper Buttler, 34, was part of England's 2019 World Cup-winning squad and led them to the T20 world title in 2022 but has since overseen disappointing and unsuccessful defences of both crowns."He is excited about the team we have got and the opportunity that sits in front of us," said McCullum."I am sure we will see Jos over the next couple of years really enjoy himself and finish with a real strong enjoyment of the game at the back end of his career."
McCullum, who has transformed the Test team since taking over in 2022, was appointed white-ball coach in September but has been unable to lead the team until now because of England's red-ball commitments.After being appointed, the New Zealander described Buttler's demeanour during their failed 2023 World Cup and 2024 T20 World Cup campaigns as "a little bit miserable at times".Buttler, who is close friends with McCullum, will unquestionably go down as one of England's greatest white-ball players. He is their leading run-scorer in T20s and sits fifth on their all-time 50-over list.Speaking in India on Monday, former New Zealand captain McCullum said: "Sometimes when you get the opportunity to lead in the latter part of your career there are times when you can be desperate for success and that can create frustrations and it doesn't become quite as enjoyable. "If you can let yourself go with nothing to prove other than getting the best out of those around you, sometimes that can free you up even more and you can perform really strongly. "He is fully on board with that. He is excited about the next little while. I am sure you will see him smiling on the field."
The series begins with the first of five T20s on Wednesday in Kolkata (13:30 GMT) before three one-day internationals.The ODIs act as England's preparation for the Champions Trophy in Pakistan and Dubai which starts on 19 February.England have lost their last three 50-over series while Buttler averages 27.00 in the format since March 2023. He did not play an ODI last year because of injury and has only one score over 50 in his past 15 innings in the format."He is smiling. That is good. He is very happy at the moment," said McCullum, who replaces Matthew Mott after the Australian's dismissal following the T20 World Cup in June."He's had a pretty good career already. His best years could definitely be ahead of him."England's recent white-ball struggles have come as the Test side has taken precedence in the build-up to this winter's Ashes series.Buttler has often been without key players for series but in India he has a near full-strength squad, including quick bowlers Mark Wood and Jofra Archer. Joe Root was left out of the T20 squad but is in line to feature in the ODIs, having last played in the format at the 2023 World Cup.McCullum, who has instilled an aggressive, attacking approach into the Test side, said he wants his white-ball side to play "watchable" cricket."With the talent we have there is no reason why we can't," he said."We have a batting line-up as powerful as any in the world, gun spinners, very good fielders and guys who bowl absolute rockets with the ball. "We have got options there to be able to entertain and give ourselves the greatest chance of success."