ICC World Cup 2019: We Played Poorly With The Bat - Jos Buttler

England’s vice-captain Jos Buttler believes that the team was let down with the bat in the match against Sri Lanka. The hosts were stunned by Sri Lanka as the Island nation was able to pull a rabbit out of the hat. Sri Lanka had posted 232 runs after Dimuth Karunaratne had won the toss and decided to bat first. Thus, it was expected that England would cruise to the total.

However, Sri Lanka was able to come up with a complete performance with the ball. Their most experienced fast bowler Lasith Malinga was on song as he scalped four wickets in his ten overs. On the other hand, England had themselves to blame as they played some loose shots. Only Ben Stokes and Joe Root were able to show the resistance but the other batters could not show the application.

Jos Buttler stated that the team hasn’t played like this in a long time and it was frustrating for them.

“We played poorly with the bat. I think we lacked energy. That doesn’t mean trying to hit fours and sixes, it means showing the intensity and trying to put pressure on the bowlers,” said Buttler. “Early wickets can set teams back, as it did for Sri Lanka when we took early wickets, but in terms of the mindset, we were not at our best. I thought we were a bit passive. We haven’t been like that for a long time so that is the most frustrating part of the game.”

Buttler believes that the team didn’t have the right attitude on the match day and didn’t show the right intensity. England was not at their best and they had to pay the price.

“We didn’t as a group have the right attitude and intensity. Obviously, Jason is a guy who has that naturally, but from one to eleven we can do it as a side. “We have played a certain way for a long period of time now. That way has brought us success but we went away from it this time.”

On the other hand, Lasith Malinga was at his best as he took four wickets. Malinga had also completed his 50 wickets in the World Cup and breathed down the neck of England’s batsmen. Subsequently, Buttler went on to praise Malinga for his superb spell.

“He is an incredibly skilful bowler. The stumps are always in play with his release point and it is generally going to be pretty close if he hits your pads. We didn’t counter him as well as we could.”

England should have been able to chase down 232 however they fell short by 20 runs. Meanwhile, England next three matches are against Australia, New Zealand and India. Thus, the hosts will need to be at the top of their game against the top three sides of the tournament. England will play their next match arch-rivals Australia on 25th June at Lord’s, London.