Jos Buttler | England's ODI Struggles in 2025 | Jos Buttler's Captaincy Woes and Poor Form Continue

England's ODI Struggles in 2025: Jos Buttler's Captaincy Woes and Poor Form Continue

England's Losing Streak: A Worrying Sign for the Team

England's recent form in ODIs has left fans and cricket analysts concerned as they suffered their seventh consecutive defeat in the format. Their latest loss against South Africa in Karachi further exposed their fragility, both with the bat and ball. This streak of seven losses is now their joint-second longest in ODI history, only behind their dismal run of 11 consecutive defeats in 2000 and 2001.

The alarming nature of these defeats highlights deeper issues within the team. England's struggles in the middle overs, their inability to bat for the full quota of 50 overs, and the lack of consistency in their batting lineup have contributed heavily to their downfall. Despite their aggressive white-ball approach in previous years, their recent performances suggest an evident decline in execution and effectiveness.

Jos Buttler's Captaincy Record: A Struggle to Lead

Saturday's match against South Africa was the last game for Jos Buttler as England's ODI captain, closing a chapter that has been filled with disappointments. His tenure as captain saw England win just 18 out of 45 matches, which translates to a concerning win-loss ratio of 0.692. Among all England captains who have led the team in at least 20 ODIs, this is the second-worst record, with only Alec Stewart faring worse with a 0.600 ratio.

The major criticism surrounding Buttler's captaincy has been his inability to lead England successfully in ICC tournaments. His record in global events, such as the ODI World Cup and the Champions Trophy, stands at just three wins in 12 matches. This puts him among the worst-performing captains in ICC events, with only Duleep Mendis (0.090) and Heath Streak (0.250) having a worse win-loss ratio among those who have captained their teams in ten or more tournament matches.

Buttler’s Personal Struggles with the Bat in Asia

Jos Buttler's struggles were not limited to his captaincy alone; his personal form, particularly in Asian conditions, has been underwhelming. His batting average of 26.34 in ODIs played in Asia is among the lowest for any established overseas batsman with over 1000 runs in these conditions. His struggles have been further pronounced since 2017, where he averages just 20 in Asia across 26 innings, with only two half-centuries to his name.

A major concern has been Buttler's vulnerability against pace bowling in Asian conditions. Fast bowlers have dismissed him 18 times since 2017, and he averages a mere 11.16 against them. While he has fared significantly better against spinners, averaging 45.57, his inability to handle pace attacks has been a glaring weakness.

His innings against South Africa on Saturday was a further testament to his struggles. He managed only 21 runs from 43 balls without hitting a single boundary. The only time he played a longer boundary-less innings in an ODI was back in 2015 against Australia, where he faced 60 balls without a four or six. Such a lack of fluency is a worrying sign for a batter who is known for his explosive stroke play.

England’s Middle-Order Collapse: A Recurring Theme

England’s batting woes in 2025 have been largely attributed to their middle-order collapses. In their six ODIs this year, they have lost a staggering 29 wickets between the 11th and 40th overs. Their inability to build partnerships in the middle overs has prevented them from posting competitive totals, as evident from their match against South Africa, where they were bowled out for just 179 – the lowest team total in this edition of the Champions Trophy.

On multiple occasions this year, England’s batting unit has failed to last the full 50 overs whenever they lost four or more wickets during the middle phase. This fragile approach has been a stark contrast to their dominant batting displays in recent years. With a lack of experienced middle-order batters stepping up, England has been unable to mount significant recoveries once early wickets fall.

England’s Lower-Order Batting Woes

Adding to their batting struggles, England’s No. 5, 6, and 7 batters have failed to contribute effectively in 2025. Across six ODIs this year, these positions have collectively averaged just 21.38, with only two half-centuries being recorded in this period. Buttler’s 52 and Jacob Bethell’s 51 against India remain the only notable performances from England’s lower-middle order, further emphasizing their lack of depth and consistency.

Heinrich Klaasen’s Consistency Against England

While England’s struggles continued, South Africa’s Heinrich Klaasen showcased remarkable form with five consecutive fifty-plus scores in ODIs. This feat places him alongside South African legends such as Jonty Rhodes, Quinton de Kock, and Kepler Wessels, who have also achieved similar streaks in the past.

Klaasen's ability to anchor innings and accelerate when needed has been a significant factor in South Africa’s success. England’s bowlers have found it difficult to contain him, and his current form makes him one of the most dangerous batters in the tournament.

Marco Jansen's Powerplay Impact

Marco Jansen played a pivotal role in dismantling England’s top order, taking three wickets in the powerplay. His early strikes, dismissing Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, and Jamie Smith, left England reeling at the start of their innings. Jansen’s ability to extract movement and bounce made life difficult for England’s top order, highlighting their vulnerability against quality fast bowling.

Jansen's performance marked the first time since 2015 that a South African bowler dismissed the opposition's top three batters within the first ten overs of an ODI innings. The last instance was Kagiso Rabada’s spell against Bangladesh in Mirpur.

Conclusion: What Lies Ahead for England

With Jos Buttler stepping down as captain, England finds itself at a crossroads. Their seven-match losing streak and continuous batting collapses indicate a need for strategic changes in both leadership and team composition. England must reassess their approach, especially in the middle overs, and find stability in their batting lineup.

As the Champions Trophy continues, England’s future in ODI cricket hangs in the balance. Whether they can recover from this slump and rebuild their reputation remains to be seen. But for now, the alarming statistics paint a grim picture of a team struggling to find its rhythm on the big stage.