England‘s T20 World Cup campaign got off to a fiery start, not on the field, but in the pre-tournament press conference. Captain Jos Buttler found himself embroiled in a heated exchange with BBC reporters on June 3rd, just a day before their opening clash against Scotland.
The controversy stemmed from England’s disappointing performance at the 50-over World Cup in 2023 under Buttler’s leadership. When BBC reporters asked, “Does your current mindset mirror your approach from last year’s ODI World Cup?” Buttler shut down the conversation abruptly.
“We are here to focus on the T20 World Cup, not what happened last year,” Buttler said curtly.
The atmosphere grew tenser when the reporters pressed for details about England’s playing XI. “I am not going to tell you the team, am I?” Buttler replied, visibly irritated. “I am pretty settled with what we are trying to do as a team. I don’t need to sit here and tell you.”
This wasn’t the only instance where Buttler displayed a guarded approach. When asked about England’s strategy for the tournament, he surprised everyone by revealing a shift in tactics.
“We are trying not to play the game before the game has been played,” Buttler explained. “It’s important not to have too many preconceived ideas and assume the pitch will play in a certain way.”
While some might see this as a strategic move to keep the opposition guessing, it remains to be seen how this newfound focus on the present moment will translate onto the field against Scotland.
The article also includes the full England T20 World Cup squad for your reference:
- Jos Buttler (c)
- Moeen Ali
- Jofra Archer
- Jonathan Bairstow
- Harry Brook
- Sam Curran
- Ben Duckett
- Tom Hartley
- Will Jacks
- Chris Jordan
- Liam Livingstone
- Adil Rashid
- Phil Salt
- Reece Topley
- Mark Wood
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