Jos Buttler keen for England to show its mettle at T20 World Cup 2024

LONDON: Jos Buttler wants his England team to show it is still a force to be reckoned with at the T20 World Cup 2024 after last year’s shambolic 50-over title defence left it with “dented” pride.

Buttler’s men went to the one-day international World Cup in India in October as double world champion but lost six of their nine matches to exit with a whimper.

A four-match Twenty20 series against Pakistan, the team it defeated in the T20 World Cup final in Melbourne in 2022, starts at Headingley on Wednesday.

Both teams will then travel to the tournament in the West Indies and United States.

Reflecting Tuesday on the impact of England’s poor showing in India, England captain Buttler said, “The pride was obviously dented and it was a really disappointing competition. But life moves on, it’s a chapter in the book and there’s lessons you learn but we’re presented with a new opportunity now, in a different format.”

“We go to the West Indies and want to give a better account of ourselves. It’s a real honour to go to another World Cup as defending champions again but it also feels like a new time,” he added.

Buttler was a key voice in England’s decision to pull all of its squad members back from the Indian Premier League to prepare as a collective.

The hard-hitting batsman said the IPL should not clash with international cricket.

“As England captain, my main priority is to be playing for England,” he said. “It’s really important for us to spend this time together. Leading into a World Cup, your number one is performing for England and it feels like this is the best preparation.”

“But it’s my personal opinion there shouldn’t be any international cricket that clashes with the IPL -- these games have been in the calendar a long time,” he said. Agencies

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