Jos Buttler Faces Crucial Decision on England Career, Says Steve Harmison
Steve Harmison has expressed that Jos Buttler may be reaching the end of his illustrious career with England, but he firmly believes that Buttler deserves the autonomy to shape his own future. At 35, Buttler is widely regarded as the nation’s finest white-ball batter, yet his recent performances in the T20 World Cup semi-finals were underwhelming. Over eight innings, he accumulated just 87 runs, failing to showcase his renowned aggressive style. Having stepped down as limited-overs captain over a year ago after a series of disappointing tournament outcomes, Buttler played a pivotal role in England’s triumphs, including the 50-over World Cup in 2019 and the T20 World Cup in 2022. Looking ahead to the 2027 World Cup in South Africa, Harmison suggested that it is time for Buttler to reflect on his future: "I think Jos deserves the right to think, ‘have I got one more cycle in me?’" "Only Jos can answer that, and he should be allowed to do that." Harmison noted that Buttler may not be enjoying his cricket with England recently. He stated: "If his heart is in it, and he wants to continue, then he plays again." "If the candle is just flickering... then maybe it is time for Jos to say, ‘I’ve given everything for England.’" Should Buttler decide to retire from international cricket, he would do so as England’s most capped player across formats, with 411 appearances. He holds the record for the most T20 runs with 4,037 and ranks third in ODIs with 5,515 runs.
Source: The Independent Sport - 2026-03-06