The form of England’s star batsman and former captain, Jos Buttler, is currently a major topic of discussion.
His performance in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 has declined so much that talks of retirement have begun.
He was dismissed without scoring in the Super 8 match against New Zealand, marking his fifth consecutive single-digit score. The statistics clearly indicate that it’s not just a bad day, but a long-term decline.
Continuous flops increase tension
In the match against New Zealand, the Kiwis batted first and scored 159/8 in 20 overs. In response, England had a poor start. Phil Salt and Buttler both departed in the first two overs. Buttler’s duck further deepened his poor run.
In this tournament, Buttler has scored just 35 runs in seven innings against pace bowlers, all from 38 balls. His average is 7.0 and strike rate is 92.10.
Overall, he has scored 62 runs in 7 innings in this World Cup, averaging 8.86. His highest score was just 26, which came against Nepal. He hasn’t crossed 30 once.
His record in ICC tournaments is also concerning. In the last four major ICC events, he has scored just one half-century in 26 innings, an 83* vs. the USA. Since the 2023 ODI World Cup, his average has been just 17.2.
Interestingly, in the 2021 T20 World Cup, his average as an opener was 89.66, the highest at the time. However, in 2026, Buttler has become the lowest average opener with an average of 8.86.
England’s situation is also precarious
Talking about the match, Jofra Archer started with a brilliant maiden over. But Tim Seifert and Finn Allen created pressure by scoring quickly. Seifert scored 35 and Allen 29. Glenn Phillips later played a crucial innings of 39.
When England came out to chase the target, the team was struggling at 58/4. Captain Harry Brook was also out. The Kiwi spinners appeared to be gaining control of the match.
This poor performance has generated considerable discussion on social media.
Cricket analyst Mufaddal Vohra tweeted, “Horrible tournament continues for Jos Buttler.”
Now, not just questions, but statistics themselves tell the story: this period for Buttler has become the most difficult of his career.
The England team is clearly feeling the pressure, as their most experienced batsman has failed to score consistently.
