Mumbai: England captain Jos Buttler has dismissed suggestions that he should tone down his natural aggressive style to overcome his recent poor form in the ongoing T20 World Cup. The batter emphasized that he will not play merely to occupy the crease at the expense of the team’s needs.
Jos Buttler , regarded as one of England’s premier white-ball batsmen, has struggled for runs recently, failing to score a half-century in his last 14 international innings across ODIs and T20Is, with a highest score of 39.
“T20 is a game that demands constant scoring. In Test cricket, a coach might tell you to ‘bat for an hour’ to regain form. But in T20s, you have to keep playing for the scoreboard. You can’t just bat for yourself and ignore the match situation,” Buttler said on the ‘For the Love of Cricket’ podcast.
The England captain managed scores of 26 and 21 against Nepal and the West Indies in Mumbai, followed by two low scores of three against Scotland and Italy in Kolkata during the group stage. Despite this, England progressed to the Super 8 stage.
Jos Buttler Reflects on Overcoming Form Slumps in His Career
Jos Buttler added that challenges are part of cricket, regardless of career stage. “It’s frustrating at times, but over 15 years I’ve learned to stand still, watch the ball, and trust myself. That’s how you come back from poor patches,” he said.
On taking responsibility, Jos Buttler said, “The only person who can score my runs is me. I’m not going to hide away or rely on someone else. I’ve got to put my own shirt on, face the middle, and give it another go. Things always come back around, so I’m ready for the next opportunity.”
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Jos Buttler also expressed his fondness for Mumbai, where England played their first two World Cup matches. “I really enjoy Mumbai. The city is busy and hectic, but that’s part of the fun. The restaurants are great, and there’s always a lot going on,” he said.
The England skipper praised the associate nations for their performances, noting their fearless approach and potential for giant-killing acts in the tournament.
England, two-time T20 World Cup champions, will begin their Super 8 campaign in Sri Lanka, facing co-hosts Sri Lanka at the Pallekele International Stadium on Sunday.