England captain Jos Buttler isn't mincing words when it comes to his team’s bowling performance at the Champions Trophy 2025. After crashing out early from the tournament, Buttler has turned the spotlight on the frequent boundary concessions by his bowlers, especially in the tight crunch phases of the games. In their decisive match against Afghanistan, England's bowlers gave away 113 runs in the final 10 overs. This collapse on the field made their chase significantly harder and ultimately led to an eight-run defeat.
Buttler didn't hesitate to point out this critical gap. 'The last 10 overs with the ball got away from us,' he shared post-game as he dissected their loss. The English skipper stressed how tightening the bowling could have made turning the tables on Afghanistan far more feasible. Despite Joe Root’s valiant century, the odds remained stacked against England due to the ease with which opponents racked up runs during key end-game overs.
Buttler's candid reflection didn't stop at his analysis of the bowlers. He also admitted to his personal slump in form, acknowledging that his batting hasn't hit the heights everyone expects from him. This introspection comes amid a troubling sixth consecutive One Day International loss for England—a streak that has inevitably put his leadership under the microscope.
The mounting defeats in white-ball cricket have sparked debates in cricket circles about Buttler's captaincy. While it's far from a one-man show, his struggles with the bat and the field have become part of a wider narrative questioning the team’s strategy and execution. As the cricketing world looks on, will the team and its skipper find a way to stop the run-fest at England’s expense?
