Jos Buttler engages in heated exchange with journalist ahead of England's T20 WC opener, says 'I don’t need to sit here and tell you..'

England captain Jos Buttler speaks to the media ahead of their T20 World Cup clash against Scotland in Bridgetown, Barbados. (Getty)
England captain Jos Buttler speaks to the media ahead of their T20 World Cup clash against Scotland in Bridgetown, Barbados. (Getty)

Highlights:

Jos Buttler was left irate at a journalist's question before England's T20 World Cup opener.

England will take on Scotland in their T20 World Cup 2024 opener on June 4.

England's white-ball captain Jos Buttler had a verbal altercation with the BBC reporters ahead of team's T20 World Cup's opening match against Scotland. 

England, the defending champions, recently secured a 2-0 series victory over Pakistan. Furthermore, key players like Phil Salt, Will Jacks, and Buttler himself impressed during IPL 2024, showcasing their form in high-pressure situations. This strong showing, not just by England but by players from other nations in the IPL, promises an exciting and competitive T20 World Cup.

 

ALSO READ: 'Important not to think about trophy jinx...': Rahul Dravid's clear cut message for Team India's T20 World Cup 2024 campaign

ALSO READ: 'I don't think I'll be able to re-apply': Rahul Dravid confirms he won't coach Indian team after T20 World Cup 2024

 

England's disastrous show in ODI World Cup 2023

England's T20 World Cup opener against Scotland is overshadowed by a tense exchange between captain Jos Buttler and BBC reporters. The controversy stems from England's disappointing performance at the 50-over World Cup last year under Buttler's leadership. They failed to defend their 2019 title, adopting a cautious approach that garnered criticism. England only managed three wins in the league stage, losing to strong contenders like New Zealand, Afghanistan, South Africa, and India. Victories came against weaker teams like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Netherlands. Prior to the World Cup in India, Buttler downplayed their chances of retaining the title, aiming to alleviate pressure on the team. However, his words seemed to foreshadow their eventual exit.

On June 3, BBC reporters questioned Buttler about his current mindset heading into the T20 World Cup 2024, specifically if it mirrored his approach from last year. This sparked the heated argument, leaving questions about how this will affect team morale and the upcoming match against Scotland.

 

ALSO READ: Fazalhaq Farooqi's back-breaking fifer rocks Uganda for 58 as Afghanistan clinch colossal win to kick off T20 World Cup campaign in style

 

When pressed about his mindset, Buttler shut down the conversation, emphasizing his sole focus on the upcoming tournament. However, things went from tense to explosive when the reporters inquired about England's playing XI for the T20 World Cup. This question appeared to particularly irritate Buttler.

 

"I am not going to tell you the team am I? I am pretty settled with what we are trying to do as a team. I don’t need to sit here and tell you," Buttler said.  

 

In a surprising revelation, Buttler admitted that England isn't overanalyzing the tournament and is taking a more present-moment approach. The wicket-keeper batsman believes it's best for the team to avoid preconceived notions about the pitch's behavior.

 

"We are trying not to play the game before the game has been played. It’s important not to have too many preconceived ideas and assume the pitch will play in a certain way" Buttler concluded.

 

England's T20 World Cup squad

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

 

MORE ON SPORTS TAK:

'10 years of lots and lots of failures...': Sanju Samson reacts for first time on his selection in Team India's T20 World Cup 2024 squad

Why did Virat Kohli skip training session again ahead of India's T20 World Cup opener against Ireland? Know reason here

Rahul Dravid hints Virat Kohli may open in T20 World Cup 2024 ahead of Ireland clash, cautions batters against taking IPL approach

Kylian Mbappe joins Real Madrid on free transfer, says 'a dream come true' in emotional post

'Our batters tried for 160-170': Wanindu Hasaranga questions his teammates' approach after Sri Lanka get bowled out for record-breaking 77