‘Poor batting costs us dear’: Jos Butler

Leeds: England wicket-keeper batsman Jos Buttler feels “poor batting” was the reason for their shock defeat against Sri Lanka in a World Cup game here.

England lacked their usual intensity with the bat as they failed to chase what appeared a relatively modest target of 233 at Headingley on Friday.

“We played poorly with the bat. I think we lacked energy. That doesn’t mean trying to hit fours and sixes, it means showing 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.”

Although England were missing Jason Roy because of a hamstring tear, Buttler refused to make an excuse out of the absence of the fast-scoring opener. “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.”