Captain Jos Buttler expressed unwavering confidence in his team and himself despite England’s World Cup elimination. The 33-year-old acknowledged his own struggle with the bat, reflecting the team’s overall performance in the tournament, where they suffered six defeats in seven matches.
In the tournament so far, Buttler has failed to score a single half-century, while England’s star-studded batting lineup managed a total of 200-plus only once in their last four games.
“The belief is not shaken, but frustration continues to grow,” Buttler told reporters. He emphasized his confidence in his own game and attributed the frustration to the disparity between his expected performance and the reality of the tournament.
While most of Buttler’s teammates have experience playing in the Indian Premier League, the conditions in the World Cup were still challenging for England.
Buttler dismissed the notion that the burden of captaincy might be affecting his batting but admitted his own disappointment with his performance. He expressed his enjoyment and comfort in the captaincy role in T20 and ODI cricket before the tournament and considered it a catalyst for his improved batting.
Reflecting on his frustration, Buttler stated, “Of all the things that have happened on this trip, I’d say my own form has been my biggest frustration because you want to lead from the front as a captain.”
With matches against the Netherlands and Pakistan remaining, England is now striving for a top-eight finish to secure qualification for the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; Editing by Christopher Cushing
