Let it hurt for a bit: Jos Buttler vows resilience after England's stunning lose to Afghanistan

England's World Cup 2023 campaign took a painful hit on October 15, as they suffered a stunning 69-run loss to Afghanistan in Delhi, leaving the cricket world in shock. England captain Jos Buttler acknowledged the hurt and emphasised the importance of allowing the defeat to sink in and use it as motivation to improve.

3 things you need to know 

• Afghanistan made it difficult for England batters to find their rhythm
• Harry Brook's gritty 66 was the only standout performance for England
• England are 5th in the points table with one win and two defeats

ALSO READ: Jonathan Trott reveals why Afghanistan held back Rashid Khan

'Let these defeats hurt'

England's attempt at chasing down Afghanistan's total of 284 was foiled by the spin attack led by Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman. This unfortunate defeat marked England's second setback in the tournament, following their humbling nine-wicket loss to New Zealand in the opening match.

For a team that boasts the title of world champions, this disappointing start to their campaign has put them in serious jeopardy of an early exit from the tournament. With six matches remaining, including crucial clashes against South Africa and India, England's path to redemption will not be easy. They face an uphill battle to secure their spot in the knockout stages of the competition. Jos Buttler, while addressing the post-match press conference, expressed his thoughts, stating: 

"I think you've got to let these defeats hurt. There's no point in just trying to move on very quickly, although you've got to do it as quick as you can. But let it hurt for a bit, let's reflect and work on the areas that we need to get better and we must show some real resilience. We've got a lot of character in the group, a lot of guys who've been through lots of good times and a few tough times as well. So we'll show a lot of resilience and come back fighting."

Buttler's sentiments reflect his previous experience after a group-stage upset against Ireland in last year's T20 World Cup. England used that loss as motivation to bounce back and achieve a historic feat by holding both the ODI and T20I world titles concurrently. However, the challenges they face now are immense, as they grapple to regain their lost momentum and form.

The root of England's problems in this tournament has been their inconsistent performance, particularly with the ball. Chris Woakes, in particular, struggled in all three outings, epitomised by his first-ball leg-side delivery that went for five wides. This lax display set the tone for England's lackluster performance. Buttler admitted: 

"It's always about execution, isn't it? Throughout the game, with the ball and with the bat, we were not at the level that we want it to be consistently enough. So I think that's the main areas where we lost the game and I think you just got to play better. You got to find ways to impose yourself on the game and execute your skill."

Afghanistan's skillful spin attack

England's woes with the bat were evident as well, as Afghanistan's spinners applied immense pressure, making it difficult for the English batters to find their rhythm. Harry Brook's gritty 66 was a standout performance in challenging conditions, but it was the only instance when England managed to clear the boundary ropes, compared to Afghanistan's eight sixes. Buttler praised Afghanistan's skillful spin attack and acknowledged that his team was not up to the mark. 

"They are a really skillful attack. Obviously they have some fantastic spin bowlers, especially. Maybe the dew didn't come in as much as we expected. The ball held a little bit and there was a little bit of indifferent bounce and they put us under lots of pressure. They bowled very dry. They bowled dead straight, keeping the stumps in play, and we weren't quite good enough."

With their World Cup campaign still hanging in the balance, England need to regroup, analyse their shortcomings, and come back stronger. The journey to redemption will require immense determination and resilience, traits they believe they possess. England will next face South Africa on October 21 at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.