England’s white-ball captain, Jos Buttler, has indicated that there are no guarantees for Ben Stokes and Joe Root’s return to the national side for the upcoming Champions Trophy in February. Both players have been absent from England’s 50-over set-up since the 2023 World Cup, and with the tournament just two months away, Buttler revealed that their involvement will depend on ongoing discussions with selectors.
Despite Stokes and Root being key figures in England’s recent success, including their 2019 World Cup triumph, their absence from the ODI squad has raised questions about their futures in the format. Stokes, who last played an ODI in 2023, has suggested that he would be willing to return if asked by new white-ball head coach Brendon McCullum, but admitted that he wouldn’t be disappointed if he wasn’t selected. Root, England’s all-time leading ODI run-scorer, has struggled with form in recent years, averaging just 22.94 in the format since July 2021.
Buttler, speaking after England’s 3-1 T20I series win in the Caribbean, said, “It’s conversations for the next few weeks with the guys in charge. The guys here have played really well, and there are players who aren’t here who will have aspirations to be in the white-ball side as well. It’s really exciting.”
Root’s ODI future remains uncertain, especially after a lacklustre run over the last few years, but Buttler expressed hope that both Root and Stokes retain ambitions in the format. “I hope they have white-ball aspirations. They’re two great players,” he said, while noting that the team is likely to see greater consistency with McCullum taking full control.
Meanwhile, Buttler himself returned to action in the Caribbean after a four-month calf injury layoff, though he opted not to keep wicket for the series, allowing him to focus on captaining the side. His leadership was praised, with Buttler highlighting Saqib Mahmood’s Player of the Series performance—nine wickets in four matches—as a standout.
As England prepares for a series against India in January, which will provide their only ODI matches before the Champions Trophy, the team is set for further discussions on its line-up, with Stokes and Root’s potential return still up in the air.