'It's a challenge...': Brendon McCullum bluntly calls Jos Buttler 'miserable'

England National Cricket Team all-format head coach Brendon McCullum has said that the white-ball skipper Jos Buttler is quite miserable at times and it will be his responsibility to cheer up the 33-year-old.

Brendon McCullum has taken charge as the all-format head coach of England after being recently handed the white-ball duties in addition to his red-ball duties following the exit of Matthew Mott. The Kiwi great will start his tenure with the white-ball team in January, and till then, Marcus Trescothick will be looking after the team.

Notably, both Jos Buttler and Matthew Mott were rumored to be sacked after the failure of the English team in back-to-back World Cups, but Buttler survived and he will continue in the role.

Speaking at a press conference after his appointment as all-format head coach, Brendon McCullum stated that Jos Buttler is not an expressive human but is a gifted player, and they both are excited to work together.

"He's been a little bit miserable at times," Brendon McCullum said of Buttler, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo."I think he's not naturally as expressive as what some may be.

"But I think he's done a great job, right? He won a [T20] World Cup as captain. He's been part of World Cup-winning teams previously as well. He's an incredibly gifted player. He's a fine leader.

"My job is to get the best out of him so that all those that sit in the dressing room feel like they can be 10 foot tall and bulletproof when they walk out to play. And they know that the skipper is going to give them that extra pat on the back and enjoy the ride with them. So it's a great challenge. I'm so excited about it, and I know that Jos is too, which is great."

Jos Buttler and I actually start from a stronger base - Brendon McCullum

Brendon McCullum further said that when he was appointed as the England Test team head coach he wasn't friends with Ben Stokes, but things will be different when he starts his white-ball coaching with 'one of the greatest' Jos Buttler, who is his good mate.

"When I started the gig with the Test side, Stokesy and I knew each other - we had a natural respect for each other - but I wouldn't say we were mates," McCullum said.

"What we've developed over the last couple of years is a very close friendship, to the point where I call him a very close mate. As much as you do this for cricketing reasons, ultimately you want good friendships and relationships to develop that last far longer than the time you've got in the job.

"Jos and I actually start from a stronger base. We know each other, we're mates, we have similar styles of play in our game. What I want from Jos is for him to enjoy the next few years. If he was to retire today, he'd go down as probably the greatest white-ball player England's ever produced."

Brendon McCullum also expressed his desire to see Jos Buttler enjoying his game as long as he plays for England and was hopeful that their friendship would develop even further. Brendon McCullum stated:

"So, the opportunity for the next three or four years, however long he plays for, is just to enjoy it. Not to protect anything. Just get the most out of all those guys around him, keep walking towards the danger, play with a smile on his face and try to do something which is really cool. Where you can look back and say: 'Gee, I really enjoyed those last few years'. I'm sure our relationship will go from mates to very good mates."

Jos Buttler has suffered a major setback as he has been ruled out of the upcoming T20I series against the Australia National Cricket Team due to a calf injury, and he is also doubtful for the ODI series.