Jos Buttler ready to bury 2023 WC ghost with ‘good performances’ in T20 World Cup title defence in Americas

England white-ball captain Jos Buttler learned lessons from lastyear’shorrible World Cup campaign in India, vowing to push his team to do better on the field in their T20 title defence in the Americas. Following the 1st T20I washout in Leeds, Buttler spoke on how he plans to overturnEngland’sfortune heading into the 2024 T20 World Cup starting June 2.

England got humbled in India last year, winning three out of their nine contested league matches, facing embarrassment worldwide; however, with the ninth edition of the T20 WC on the horizon, the England captain feels his side is placed better with the dynamite yet balanced squad.

Buttler said the players picked for the 20-team tournament are aware of their game plans. Instead of telling them how to play, more communication on role clarity will make it easier for them to approach this marquee tournament, he added.

"Maybe [there could have been] more communication attimes,to make sure people areclearon whatis neededfrom them. But certainly, there are times when I look back and sayI'dprobably make similar decisions in certain instances, and for whatever reason, theyjustdon'twork out.

"Even if there was a lack of clarity, or whatever you want to call it,I'dstill expect us to perform better than we did.It'seasy to look at results and say there are certain things you would do differently or say differently. Wejustdidn'tplay well enough.

"It'sa chapter in the book; it was obviously a really disappointing World Cup, and your pride and confidence gets dented a bit, but time moves on, and thisa really excitingopportunity now with this World Cup coming up,”Buttler continued.

Buttler replies toMorgan’sremarks

Following EoinMorgan’sremarks on how Englandwill face difficultyrecovering from lastyear’sWorld Cup debacle, with him hinting at some rift inside the dressing room, Buttler revertedaggressively, sayinghedoesn’thave areason why this England squad cannot turn back the clock by just playing good cricket.

"Idon'tsee why not,"he said."You guys aresathere talking as ifno oneknowswhat'sgoing on.I'mpretty surethere'ssome experienced players inthere,whoknowhow cricketworksandknowhow to play T20 cricket.

"Idon'tthinkit'sabout trying to reinvent thewheelortrying to give people messages thatthey'venever heard before.It'sabout playing good cricket.In tournament cricket,you'vegot toplay the crunch momentsreallywell.You'vegot to come back from adversity really well.You have to read the game, andplaywell, andbe able toadapt.

"There might be games where you need to scorein excess of200, there might be games where you need to scrap and try and defend 140, on a wicketthat'sholding up andit'stough for batting,”the England captain said.

Meanwhile, the second of the four-match T20Is against Pakistan willtake placein Edgbaston on Saturday (May 25).