Jos Buttler: Profile of England’s White-Ball Wicketkeeper-Batter
A profile of Jos Buttler, the England wicketkeeper-batter who starred in the 2019 World Cup final and 2022 T20 triumph, with style and legacy.
Jos Buttler is one of England’s most inventive white-ball batters. A wicketkeeper by trade, he is known for finishing innings with innovative strokeplay, and he has been at the heart of the country’s major limited-overs successes.
Early life and rise
Born in Taunton, Buttler came through the Somerset system and made his England debut in limited-overs cricket in 2011. He later moved to Lancashire. His Test debut followed in 2014, but it was in one-day and Twenty20 cricket that he built his reputation as a match-winner.
Playing style
Buttler combines quick hands with a wide range of shots, including ramps, scoops and reverse sweeps, and he is able to score quickly against both pace and spin. In recent years he has opened the batting in T20 cricket, where his ability to attack from the start has been a feature of England’s approach. He keeps wicket and is a reliable presence behind the stumps.
Career highlights
He was part of the England team that won the 2019 ODI World Cup at Lord’s, and in the dramatic Super Over of the final he effected the run-out of Martin Guptill that sealed victory. In 2022 he led England to the T20 World Cup title in Australia, and in the semi-final against India he and Alex Hales shared an unbroken opening stand that won by ten wickets.
In ODI cricket he made an unbeaten 162 from 70 balls against the Netherlands in 2022, then a record for England. In the Indian Premier League he scored 863 runs for Rajasthan Royals in 2022 and won the Orange Cap. He has played franchise cricket for several teams, including Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Titans and Manchester Originals in The Hundred.
Legacy
Buttler has helped shape England’s modern attacking white-ball identity, and the shots he popularised have been imitated by younger batters around the world. His career is still unfolding, so his final place in the game’s history is yet to be settled.
Frequently asked questions
What position does Jos Buttler play?
He is a wicketkeeper-batter, often opening or batting in the top order in white-ball cricket.
What did Jos Buttler do in the 2019 World Cup final?
He was part of the winning England team and ran out Martin Guptill in the Super Over.
Did Jos Buttler win the IPL Orange Cap?
Yes, he finished as the leading run-scorer in the 2022 IPL season with 863 runs for Rajasthan Royals.