Jos Buttler believes Brendon McCullum’s removal as Test coach has strengthened England’s prospects for the upcoming Cricket World Cup, with the New Zealander now fully committed to securing the trophy next winter.
McCullum was relieved of his red-ball duties in July, with Stephen Fleming eventually named as his successor, but remained in charge of England’s limited-overs setup that concluded the summer with 11 wins and two defeats.
This included ODI series victories over India and Sri Lanka, elevating England’s position in a format that has seen them decline since becoming world champions in 2019.
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McCullum has remained in charge of England’s white-ball teams, alongside specialist mentor Kevin Pietersen
Buttler, who captained the side during their disappointing 2023 campaign, argues that the dual-coaching arrangement has enabled McCullum to devote his full attention to lifting the World Cup trophy.
“He’s now got just one focus and that is the white ball,” Buttler explained on his For the Love of Cricket podcast.
“It’s not that he couldn’t manage everything previously, because he could, but his time is spread more evenly across formats and he has additional considerations with the Test team as well.
“Now he can concentrate exclusively on limited-overs cricket – T20, primarily, but especially ODI cricket with the World Cup approaching. It seems like McCullum is naturally fully committed to, ‘how do I win this World Cup with this team?’
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Buttler said McCullum now has more time to focus on the white-ball format
“I think he can see that the World Cup is approaching quickly. It’s a concrete target now, since his role shifted from four months ago overseeing all formats to focusing specifically on this goal. He simply has more time and clarity of purpose.” McCullum’s emphasis on white-ball cricket comes as England seeks to recapture their form in the 50-overs format, which has struggled since their 2019 world champions triumph. The recent series victories have provided a promising foundation heading toward the 2027 tournament in South Africa.
Buttler delivers update on hamstring injury
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Buttler was forced to retire after suffering a hamstring injury during England’s second ODI against Sri Lanka
Buttler is currently sidelined due to a hamstring injury and has already been excluded from the upcoming tri-series tour of Pakistan. He is also questionable for England’s November tour of Australia, potentially missing up to eight ODIs and a crucial portion of pre-World Cup preparation.
“I’ve undergone a scan and I’m awaiting consultation with the specialist to determine the next steps,” he stated.
“The uncertainty is often the most challenging aspect. Every cricketer simply desires a physiotherapist or doctor to provide a definitive timeline – like ‘you’ll be back on this date’. Unfortunately, we cannot offer that certainty just yet.”
England vs Sri Lanka white-ball series’ results
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