31 January 2023 , 11:26
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England white-ball skipper Jos Buttler has insisted his side has "ingrained confidence", despite admitting they are yet to play "to the level we're capable of" in ODIs under his captaincy.
Buttler replaced Eoin Morgan as captain following his international retirement in June, but England are yet to win an ODI series with him in charge and back-to-back defeats to South Africa means they are now in the midst of their worst run of form since 2014 after losing five on the bounce.
However, ODI cricket has taken something of a backseat recently, with England's white-ball side primarily focused on T20 cricket after World Cups in 2021 and 2022. And with several key players missing in South Africa, Buttler is confident his side can bounce back ahead of the 50-over World Cup later this year.
"There was a lot of change in the summer and we haven't played to the level we're capable of," Buttler admitted. "[But] there's ingrained confidence in the guys over a long period of time in white-ball cricket.
"That confidence is fantastic to be able to call on. We're disappointed not to be getting results, but [we have] belief in the way we play and the success we've had over a long time.
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"We need to push that envelope further and not rest on our laurels. There's a big picture of building towards the World Cup, and the T20 World Cup is quite a good learning for us that you probably don't have to go exactly on the form you have leading into it.
"The time as a team where we want to be really clear and set, ready to go for the World Cup is when we play New Zealand at home in September. That's what you're building towards."
England have lost their last five ODIs, their worst run of form since 2014 (MARCO LONGARI/AFP via Getty Images)Vice-captain Moeen Ali agrees with Buttler's assessment, insisting: "There is no panic in the changing room. We know with World Cups coming up it is about getting the right team together.
"Rooty [Joe Root] is a massive player at No 3, and he's not here, Jonny [Bairstow] is out, Woody [Mark Wood] would be in as well. There's a lot of strength to come in. For the players it's about not getting too down, we want to peak at the right time.
"We're more experienced, used to different conditions, and going to India where we've played a lot of IPL, I feel we'll be ready to go. Results don't show it yet but I think we will be better than we were."