Buttler becomes T20 cricket's all-time leading run-scorer

Jos Buttler has cemented his status as the greatest run-scorer in T20 cricket history, surpassing the long-standing record previously held by West Indies opener Chris Gayle. Gayle retired from professional cricket in 2022 with a tally of 14,562 runs, a mark that has now been eclipsed.

While Kieron Pollard, another West Indian player, recently overtook Gayle's total, Buttler's consistent excellence has now placed him at the pinnacle. Pollard extended the record to 14,803 runs during the Major League Cricket season. Pollard also holds the record for the most appearances in the format with 741 games, significantly more than any other player.

Buttler, with 522 appearances, ranks ninth on the all-time list for games played. Although he is England's most capped T20 player with 160 appearances, he is not the most prolific Englishman in terms of games played; that distinction belongs to Alex Hales, who has made 528 appearances and amassed 14,429 runs, placing him fourth overall.

Buttler's T20 career began modestly in 2009, batting lower down the order. His international career also started slowly, with limited opportunities to bat in his initial T20I appearances. However, his game evolved significantly. Former England teammate Dawid Malan noted Buttler's early promise, highlighting his "scoops and power" and his ability to adapt and "push the modern game."

His journey included his first T20 half-century for England in 2013 and his maiden T20I century in the 2021 T20 World Cup. Buttler's remarkable consistency is evident in his batting averages, which remain strong across various bowling types, with only a slight dip against leg-spin. His ability to perform against diverse bowling attacks has been key to his record-breaking achievement.

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He started young [he was 20 when he made his England debut]. He always had the scoops and power and he's developed with the modern game. He's never been left behind and he's almost been at the forefront of pushing the modern game and what players can do.