After another startling setback in their fading World
Cup campaign, Jos Buttler urges England to “let this defeat hurt”
following their 69-run defeat to Afghanistan in Delhi.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Afghanistan’s opener, initiated
the outcome by scoring 80 runs off 57 balls. Senior spinner Rashid Khan then
completed the victory with 9.3 overs remaining, handing England their second
loss in as many games after being destroyed by New Zealand by nine wickets in
their opening match.
There is very little room for error for England, the
defending world champions, in their remaining six games, including the pivotal
matchup against South Africa in Mumbai on Saturday. South Africa is one of the
three unbeaten teams at the top of the standings.
“I think you’ve got to let these defeats
hurt,” Buttler said at the post-match presentations. “There’s no
point in just trying to move on very quickly, although you’ve got to do it as
quick as you can.
“But let it hurt for a bit, let’s reflect and
work on the areas that we need to get better and we must show some real
resilience. We’ve got a lot of character in the group, a lot of guys who’ve
been through lots of good times and a few tough times as well. So we’ll show a
lot of resilience and come back fighting.”
Buttler’s remarks mirror his feelings during a recent
group-stage defeat against Ireland in Melbourne during the T20 World Cup. When
England lost that match, they used it as motivation to adjust their strategy
and win the next one, becoming the first men’s team to simultaneously hold the
50- and 20-over world championships. However, judging by a worrisomely timid
performance, it will be extremely difficult for them to turn around their
campaign.
“As a whole, we are not quite at the level that
we’d like to be, and in World Cups and against good opposition, guys putting
you under pressure, that’s where we need to be.” Buttler said. “So
all of us, from everyone on the field and off it, will be working hard to put
that right.”