Jos Buttler admits England’s cricketers ‘feel like they have let people down’ following their shambolic World Cup exit, claiming his own form has cost the defending champions

• Jos Buttler has taken ownership of England’s Cricket World Cup exit on Saturday 
• England were beaten by Australia in what was their sixth loss of the tournament 
• He also questioned his own form after the match claiming it has ‘really hurt us’ 

Jos Buttler has admitted England’s ODI players ‘feel like they have let people’ down and scrutinised his own performances following his team’s disappointing exit from the Cricket World Cup. 

Having now slumped their sixth loss in seven games following Saturday’s 33-run defeat by Australia, the defending champions hopes of qualifying for the knock-out stages of the tournament have now been extinguished. 

England have lost to India, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, South Africa and Afghanistan during the tournament, and Buttler, who was dismissed by Adam Zampa yesterday for a single run, claimed his side were reeling from the disappointing campaign. 

‘It’s a low point, it hurts a lot,’ the ODI captain said after Saturday’s loss.

‘We feel like we’ve let people down and you wear that on your own shoulders. You want to lead from the front as a captain.’

Jos Buttler admits his England side ‘feel like they have let people down’ following their disappointing Cricket World Cup exit

Buttler’s side suffered a 33-run defeat by Australia on Saturday, their sixth defeat of the tournament on Saturday

It now means their hopes of qualifying for the knock-out stages of the World Cup have been extinguished

England’s hopes of qualifying for the 2025 Champions Trophy are now also hanging by a thread and questions have been asked of the side’s poor form with Matthew Mott’s tenure as the England’s white ball coach being put under the spotlight. 

Several of his team have also spoken out on the shambolic campaign, with red ball captain Ben Stokes calling their performances ‘c**p’. 

Buttler, meanwhile, reflected on his individual form at the tournament, with the 33-year-old having struggled with the bat. 

The wicketkeeper-batsman has managed to score just 43 runs in the last four matches. For context, his highest score in a single match at the tournament came in their opener against New Zealand where he scored 43 runs. 

‘My own form has really hurt us,’ Buttler added. 

‘Obviously, I’ve had a pivotal position in the batting line-up, so to play as poorly as I have done has had a big effect on the team.

‘Coming into the tournament I felt in fantastic form, as good as I’ve been in. So, to be sat here having had the tournament I’ve had is incredibly frustrating – but it doesn’t shake your belief.

‘I’ve got to make sure I’m the last one that stops believing in myself. You guys (the media) will give up on me a lot earlier than I’ll give up on myself.’

After Saturday’s defeat, Buttle admitted he was ‘frustrated’ with his performances, adding that he had come into the tournament wanting to lead from the front.  

While England’s bowlers have upped their game in their last few outings, they have struggled with the bat, having notably managed to score only 129 runs against India and 156 against Sri Lanka. 

On Saturday, they were set a target of 287 by Australia, but again came up short, managing 253 before they were bowled out by Pat Cummins’ side. 

Opener Jonny Bairstow was dismissed for a duck before his partner, Joe Root was caught by Greg Inglis for 13, with Mitchell Starc taking both wickets. 

Dawid Malan and Ben Stokes subsequently arrived at the crease to hit 50 and 64 runs respectively, while England’s tail order batters managed to surmount a late charge. 

Australia set England a target of 287 but bowled Buttler’s side out for 253, with Adam Zampa taking four wickets

England have struggled with the bat in recent matches having also only amassed 129 runs in their previous outing against India

Buttler’s side have now also lost 67 of a possible 69 wickets at the tournament. 

They currently sit joint-bottom of the standings alongside Bangladesh and must finish eighth to qualify for the Champions Trophy in 2025. 

England will need to secure victory in their remaining games against Netherlands and Pakistan to do so.  

And Buttler understood the challenge that lies ahead of his team, stating: ‘You know, the Champions Trophy is a tournament we want to be involved in and if we’re going to be involved in it, we need to win some games of cricket.

‘We threatened today but it’s still not good enough.’

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