Jos Buttler aims to follow Joe Root's lead and thrive as an ex-England captain
With his 35th birthday just around the corner, he could easily have walked away entirely in pursuit of guaranteed riches as a full-time franchise freelancer.
But he remains committed to following the lead of Root, who has scored 14 hundreds and averaged 58 since being replaced as Test skipper by Ben Stokes.
'It's not that I wasn't enjoying my cricket before, but I obviously wasn't enjoying the way it was going,' he told the PA news agency.
'Part of the challenge of cricket is trying to come through that, being resilient and getting out the other end.
'I've had a bit of time and space and I do feel like I have a better understanding now of where I was as a player and captain. I'm a bit more relaxed and enjoying my cricket again. I do feel like I'm in a new phase of my career.
'Now that I'm not captain anymore it's about me playing the best I can for the team. I love playing for England, it's an honour, and I want to do as much as I can.
'Rooty has been a massive inspiration in that, seeing the impact I can have as a senior player. He's gone to some amazing new levels and he knows what it's like to not be captain any more and still give back to the team. That's the opportunity that is out there for me. Joe's a good mate of mine and has been really helpful in making that transition.'
Buttler, who is the marquee player for Manchester Originals in the Hundred, was speaking at the unveiling of Compare the Market's new mural in the city, bearing his likeness alongside Southern Brave's Chris Jordan, Emma Lamb of Birmingham Phoenix and three aspiring juniors from the Chance to Shine street cricket programme.
The tournament is in its final year before the arrival of eight new investment groups, who are set to pay a combined £520million for a seat at the table. Four teams will be tied to groups involved with Indian Premier League franchises and Buttler, arguably the Englishman most associated with that competition, expects big things.
'The level of investment is mindblowing. It's going to be the next evolution of the Hundred,' he said.
'The IPL is enormous, it's a different beast, and the owners will be bringing new ideas, new expertise and they will want to really push things to be the best they can be.
'The calibre of people getting involved, from the IPL to the tech giants, is awesome. It's going to be a really exciting time for English cricket, on and off the field.'
:: Jos Buttler was speaking at the unveiling of a new mural commissioned by principal partner of The Hundred, Compare the Market in partnership with the children's charity, Chance to Shine.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Spectator
5 hours ago
- Spectator
Don't believe the doomsday talk about London
It is one of the joys of sport that friendships forged in changing rooms and on playing fields can be immediately rekindled decades later. Conversation flows like a tap turned back on. My old Westminster School team celebrated an anniversary recently. Players flew in from Dallas, Miami and Tallinn or tubed it from Hampstead and Wimbledon. We had a team photo taken in front of the altar in Westminster Abbey (after asking some tourists politely to move). We had a tour of the school, admired the investment in science and arts blocks and especially in the restored and extended pavilion fronting the pitches behind Tate Britain. Standing on our old field, we reminisced about our defender who refused to head the ball and our striker who kept disappearing north to watch Leeds United and returning on a night train to be in Abbey for assembly first thing. Talking of trips down memory lane, quite a few football clubs host sessions to help those with dementia by screening footage of old games. It's very moving to watch empty eyes fill with life when recognising favourite players. Tottenham Hotspur send first-teamers to a nursing home in Enfield with photos of club legends. Many of those struggling to recall their children's names instantly remember Jimmy Greaves. It's a football-wide initiative the government should consider rolling out nationwide. Jack Grealish is such a likeable character that I hope he succeeds in relaunching his career at Everton on loan from Manchester City. He once excitedly told me that he loves Home Alone 2: Lost in New York and watches it four or five times every Christmas. He's done the Home Alone tour, booked into the Plaza, and even had a go at the 16 ice cream scoops ordered from room service by Macaulay Culkin in the film. Grealish is a good player at risk of being forgotten as an elite talent. Everton offers an opportunity and a great new stage. If he doesn't seize it, Grealish will be left home alone as the England squad head out to New York and elsewhere in the United States for the World Cup next summer. Revelling up: one of the many reasons to welcome back the Premier League this week. Promotion to the world's most followed sports competition is rousing, both emotionally and economically, to cities such as Leeds and Sunderland and towns like Burnley. Local universities receive more applications; tourism and the hospitality sphere benefit hugely; not to mention the boost to civic pride. Few government schemes, cultural campaigns or tourism drives can rival the impact on a community of Premier League status. It's always a bit of a risk making predictions for the season, but here goes… players' behaviour will improve for the first month; there will be protests over ticket prices, owners and kick-off times; more moaning and debate about VAR; Liverpool will win the title; Florian Wirtz will be Footballer of the Year; there will be more scrutiny over an increase in knee injuries; and all fans of all clubs will sincerely believe all officials, media and authorities are against them. I grew up in a modern house in Highgate made of glass and steel that featured regularly in the colour supplements, was regularly used for advertising shoots and also regularly broken into. I miss the house. It was undeniably stunning and a happy family home, but I don't miss that era of the late 1970s when crime in London was pervasive. I don't miss being home alone when somebody tried to come through the front door with a sledgehammer. So I don't buy this 'London is Falling' doomsday talk. The capital has its problems – phone-snatching, gangs, the drug trade and the threat to women walking home at night – but people seem to have short memories when it comes to this topic. Headlines don't always reflect reality. It's not the 1970s. London remains a great city for energy, culture, shopping, music and comedy clubs, pubs and restaurants, parks and, of course, sport, with such legendary venues as Wembley, Wimbledon and Lord's. Those who think it has fallen should get out more. Books have lead-in times to publication so long you can sometimes forget you've written them. I helped Duncan Ferguson, the ex-Scotland international footballer and ex-jailbird, with his autobiography. I sent the manuscript before Christmas, resumed other work, then six months later the book came out. Oh yes, I remember that, better check how it's doing. A book about stray dogs beat it to the top spot in the Sunday Times bestseller list in the first week, before my forgotten hardback friend saw them off.
Wales Online
7 hours ago
- Wales Online
Louis Rees-Zammit on brink of signing for English giants
Louis Rees-Zammit on brink of signing for English giants The 24-year-old announced last month that he would be returning to rugby from the NFL Rees-Zammit is reportedly close to a return to club rugby (Image: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency) Bristol Bears are growing increasingly confident of signing Wales international Louis Rees-Zammit upon his return from the NFL. The 24-year-old announced at the end of July that he would be returning to rugby union, having spent the last 18 months trying to crack American Football. The former Gloucester wing is understood to be a target of the rebel R360 league, but he will need to find a contract in the short-term - with the new league, driven by former England World Cup winner Mike Tindall, not been guaranteed to get off the ground. Rees-Zammit's announcement that he would be returning to rugby sparked a scramble for his signature, with clubs in England and France interested in the 32-cap international. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby Newcastle, fresh from being backed by Red Bull, ruled themselves out of the running this week, while Cardiff have also been linked. Sources close to Rees-Zammit insist that all options remain on the table, but WalesOnline understands that Bristol are getting closer to landing the marquee signing ahead of the new Gallagher Prem season. Rees-Zammit is still currently in Florida, enjoying some time with family ahead of returning to the UK. Article continues below It's understood that he will push ahead with signing for a club upon his return. A move to Bristol makes sense on a number of levels. The Ashton Gate club have shown they can market high-profile stars, as was the case with American star Ilona Maher's stint with the women's side last season. When Rees-Zammit left rugby union in early 2024, he was one of the most recognisable names in the northern hemisphere - with his stock arguably still growing even away from the sport, given his attempts to make it in the NFL. Once Rees-Zammit's club future is sorted, he will get on with making his return to Test rugby. Wales have endured a downturn in form since Rees-Zammit's last cap at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. His last Test appearance against Argentina in Marseille marked the start of an 18-Test losing run for Wales. New Wales coach Steve Tandy has already opened the door for Rees-Zammit to return to the fold. 'I think you wouldn't rule anything out,' said Tandy last week. 'Zammo brings a big effect and excitement by coming back. 'I think it's great for the game. He's gone away to experience something new, which is class, and I'm sure he will be in outstanding physical condition. Article continues below 'The more players we have available to represent our country the better. That's exciting and makes our job easier. 'It will also make our calls on selection a lot more challenging in terms of selection as we've already got some very good back-three players. Adding Zammo into that makes it even more exciting for not only us, but the fans as well. Wales take on Argentina, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa in the autumn.
Daily Mirror
8 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Jarrad Branthwaite injury: Everton suffer nightmare blow just days before season
Jarrad Branthwaite signed a new contract at Everton over the summer, but he will miss the opening few weeks of the new season after aggravating a hamstring injury Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite will miss the start of the season after suffering a hamstring injury days before his side's Premier League opener at Leeds. Centre-back Branthwaite, 23, was forced to limp out of training after suffering an injury to his right hamstring, the same area he injured in Everton's final game at Goodison Park against Southampton in May. The Mail report that Branthwaite could be sidelined until the end of September, causing him to miss the first six games of the new Premier League season - including a Merseyside derby at Anfield - as well as Everton's Carabao Cup second round tie at home to Mansfield. Branthwaite, who picked up his so far only England cap last year, is also likely to be forced out of contention for Thomas Tuchel's Three Lions squad next month, when they face Andorra and Serbia in World Cup qualifiers. Branthwaite had been attracting interest from several Premier League sides prior to signing a new contract at Everton this summer, and is seen as a key figure in David Moyes ' side ahead of their first season at their new Hill Dickinson Stadium. Fellow centre-back James Tarkowski underwent hamstring surgery earlier this summer and has been eased back into action over pre-season, with Jake O'Brien and Michael Keane also still on the books at the club. Moyes was already keen to add a new centre-back to his squad this summer prior to Branthwaite's injury, with the Scot still desperate for more faces to add to his squad after bringing in midfielders Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jack Grealish. Speaking on the club's pre-season tour of the US, Moyes said: "We've got huge priorities as far as where we would like to try and buy the players if we could do. "But also, we've got a numbers situation as well, we're short in numbers, so there's a bit of both. We're trying to get the pieces we really want first, and that's what we've been fighting to do. So hopefully we can, hopefully things will fall into place. "But we're just beginning to think, my goodness, we're just not getting enough over the line. "Because we are actively working to try [and] it's not as if we're a club who are saying [that] we're waiting to sell a player before we can bring one in. But it's not really the situation. We've got money to spend, and we'll have to try and spend it wisely." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
