But if those arguments sound convincing, the reality is less straightforward.
Yes, the sample size is too small to draw definitive conclusions but when Buttler has captained from the outfield there has been no obvious upturn in results – three wins and four defeats his return from seven matches for England and Manchester Originals.
“Being wicketkeeper is a massive benefit in terms of getting tactical information around decision-making,” says Sam Billings, a wicketkeeping captain who has won the 2021 T20 Blast and the past two editions of the Hundred as skipper.
“As a wicketkeeper you can read conditions, field positions, and the angles far better than any other place on the field.”
There have been few more successful white-ball captains than India’s 2011 World Cup-winning skipper MS Dhoni, famed for his tweaks and tactical nous from behind the stumps.
“It is hard to go from captaining and keeping your whole career to change to a captain at extra cover the whole time,” Billings adds.
“[Former England skipper] Eoin Morgan was such a good captain because he had always captained from cover and worked on those conversations.”
There is also, of course, no guarantee that fewer responsibilities means an upturn in results.
McCullum’s career may well have been extended by giving up the gloves but his batting average was just 29.76 after doing so.
Should he want to stay on as keeper, Buttler could easily point to one of his other confidantes, Kumar Sangakkara.
The Sri Lanka great kept wicket until the end and finished his illustrious ODI career with four centuries in his last five matches.
The stats may well tell Buttler whatever it is he wants to hear.
