All this suggests a casual approach to retaining their 50-over crown.
Buttler, who has scored only 95 runs in five matches – including 43 in an innings against New Zealand – insisted England are not relying on past glories, even though every member of Thursday’s XI is over 30. or more than that.
“I think in any sport or anything, you can’t protect anything or rely on the past,” the captain said after the defeat to Sri Lanka, which helped England – who face England on Sunday Invincibles will play hosts India – needing all wins in four of their remaining pool matches to stand no chance of reaching the semi-finals.
“You have to go and build it back up again. You can’t rest on your laurels, take anything for granted or just think it’s going to fix over night.”
Buttler, to his credit, refused to use the familiar excuse of blaming the program for England’s problems.
“The schedule is the schedule and there are a lot of things in our favor,” the 33-year-old wicketkeeper batsman said.
“We’ve had fantastic support from the coaches… As a country we’ve had fantastic support from our fans, and we’ve let them all down. It’s been a really tough few weeks, incredibly disappointing.”
He further added, “So, I don’t think there is any blame anywhere else but us. And as a captain, you feel it the most.”