England captain Jos Buttler has said his side will continue to play their aggressive cricket as they look to defend their 50-over World Cup title in India.
England went into the tournament as heavy favorites after revolutionizing the way they play their cricket, becoming two-time world champions after winning the T20 World Cup last autumn.
In a repeat of the 2019 World Cup final, they will face New Zealand in the opening match of the tournament on Thursday at 9.30am with the first ball at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, to be watched live Air sports.
“We want to play aggressive cricket, take on the game and push the boundaries of what we are capable of as players and as a team,” Butter told Air sports.
“We play in a style that people like to watch. We risk losing when we try to win, which makes for exciting games and that’s what people like to watch.
“Every game is different. We have had some fantastic games against New Zealand over the years and our first game is a big game for everyone involved. The best team on the day will win.
“We have a very experienced team and we came together in the ODI series for New Zealand after not playing for a while, but everyone fitted seamlessly into their roles and the exposure of the group.”
India is familiar territory for Buttler and most of the England team, who played in the Indian Premier League, and they will be used to the weather conditions and dry pitches.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to captain this side in a World Cup. It’s a huge honor and I’m very excited,” Buttler added.
“There is no place in the world like India when it comes to cricket and the passion the fans have there. They create a special environment.”
Despite entering the tournament as a two-time world champion, Buttler is under no illusions about how tough England’s route to the final is.
“We may be champions at the moment, but everyone is getting better, everyone is training harder, and if you don’t, you’re left behind,” Buttler said.
“Heading into this World Cup we will know that any other team would have trained as hard as we have and we will have to make sure we are in the best possible place to win.”
“I don’t think you’re ever at your best. There’s so much depth to the game and there’s always another shot or technique you want to master.
“When you are a role model, you have a responsibility to play in a way that excites young fans and encourages them to get involved in the game.
“They are the future of the game and we have done that very well as a team over the past ten years.”
In the extraordinary 2019 final, it was Buttler who cleared the bail, leaving New Zealander Martin Guptill behind in the deciding super over.
“The final was great, but the journey is the part you remember more,” Buttler said.
“After you get a hard-fought victory and you celebrate in the dressing room, those are the moments you cherish.
“We lost a few games at the 2019 World Cup that on the outside we might have expected to win and those are the moments when you are challenged. Then you have to stay true to what you believe in.
“It’s easy to say the right things when you’re winning, but can you believe them when you’re losing?”
Watch the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 live on Sky Sports between Thursday, October 5 and Sunday, November 19. You can stream the tournament on NOW for six months for £21 per month. Cancel at any time.