Buttler: I definitely have room for improvement

England batsman seeks repeat of 2015 century Opener Roy ‘hopeful’ of return against India

Jos Buttler has admitted it is time he delivered a match-winning performance at the World Cup, after a mixed tournament for one of the world’s best one-day players.

Buttler scored a century in a losing cause against Pakistan in England’s second match, but has since passed 50 only once in four innings, when he smacked 64 in the comfortable victory over Bangladesh.

England desperately need a senior player such as Buttler, the vicecaptain, to lead from the front tomorrow against India. Unfortunately, Buttler averages only 24 against India from 15 one-day internationals, his worst record against any of the major nations.

It was at Edgbaston in 2015 that Buttler’s 129 off 77 balls against New Zealand sparked the renaissance in England’s one-day cricket, lifting them from the gloom of a disastrous World Cup campaign just weeks earlier.

Now England need that same shot in the arm during the tournament, with a place in the last four in serious danger of not materialising following consecutive defeats by Sri Lanka and Australia.

Buttler has also struggled with his wicketkeeping, dropping catches and, most recently, missing a stumping against Australia at Lord’s on Tuesday, summing up England’s patchy fielding under pressure during the tournament.

He had a long session with Bruce French, the wicketkeeping coach, at Edgbaston yesterday as England began preparations.

“OK, definitely some room for improvement,” said Buttler when asked to rate his own World Cup so far. “I’ve batted well, but not had the impact on the last few games I would have liked. With the gloves I can be a lot tidier as well. That is something I have been trying hard to rectify and look forward to trying to improve. My aim all the time going into games is to try and influence it in a winning way for England, with the bat and the gloves.”

Jason Roy had a lengthy net and looked to be moving with more freedom than earlier in the week. He answered “hopefully” when asked if he would be fit, but looks certain to return from a hamstring injury as a desperate England are ready to gamble on his fitness.

Roy is nowhere near 100 per cent and the risk is that he tears his left hamstring again going for a quick run or while fielding. If that happens it will be the end of his World Cup and could potentially rule him out of the early part of the Ashes series later this summer, but England’s top order has looked flimsy in his absence.

“Yeah, he looks pretty good. I think he’s been progressing nicely,” said Buttler about Roy. “It is nice to see him back in the nets and having him back around the group taking part. I’m sure the medical team know more than I do, but he looks like he’s going well. I don’t know on that [whether he can play if not 100 per cent]. He’s been a very important player for a long time as the other XI are who will take the field. Jason as an individual is a fantastic player, so it’s always a boost when he’s available.”

Jofra Archer had a light training session, but did not bowl or bat as he nursed a side strain that almost ruled him out of the game against Australia. He remains a doubt for tomorrow and, if he is unfit, Liam Plunkett looks the most likely replacement, although if England think the pitch is going to be low and slow it could suit a skiddier bowler such as Tom Curran.

The pitch was left open to the elements yesterday and England hope the hot weather in Birmingham will harden the surface and make it better for batting.

Heavy rain in early June meant the pitches at Edgbaston had to be constantly covered and could be dried only using artificial lights, which is why groundstaff believe it has offered more turn than usual.

England (possible): J Roy, J Bairstow, J Root, E Morgan (capt), J Buttler (wkt), B Stokes, M Ali, C Woakes, A Rashid, J Archer, M Wood. India (possible): R Sharma, K Rahul, V Kohli (capt), V Shankar, K Jadhav, H Pandya, M Dhoni (wkt), K Yadav, M Shami, Y Chahal, J Bumrah.

Umpires A Dar (Pakistan), K Dharmasena (Sri Lanka).