Jos Buttler states brand equally important as success for England at World Cup

The 28-year-old’s unbeaten 110 off 55 balls at a strike rate of 200 against Pakistan this month demonstrated the expansive style of play England now embody

The brand of cricket England play is just as important as international success, according to Jos Buttler.

The wicketkeeper-batsman has been part of Eoin Morgan’s side that has seen its stock rise over the last four years and which has climbed to the top of the ODI rankings.

The 28-year-old’s unbeaten 110 off 55 balls at a strike rate of 200 against Pakistan this month demonstrated what he has brought to the side and believes that such style is as important as victories on the international stage.

Buttler was speaking at the launch of England’s new kit for the World Cup and said: "I think the expectation has changed a bit on what people think they are going to see from an England side.

"People come excited to watch us play which is great and means that we are playing well and it means that we are playing a brand that people want to watch.

"Success is really important, and people connect with that, but I think they also connect with the way we are playing, and that is important to try and grow cricket in this country.

^{Buttler scored at a strike rate of 200 at Southampton earlier this month against Pakistan}

"I think this summer is the biggest opportunity cricket has ever had to make an impact on getting people involved in the game."

Last summer however saw the England football team reach the semi-finals of the World Cup, and Buttler hopes his side can take inspiration from their footballing counterparts’ achievements in Russia.

"I hope so, it was great to see the way it gripped the nation.

"Obviously, football is huge in England, and we have had really good football teams before, but they haven’t really connected with the public the way this team did.

"We have learnt a lot from watching that and the fearless and attacking brand of football they were playing.

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"We want to try and empty bars as a team, we want people to have bums on seats and be watching the game and I think the side that I am playing in as gone a long way to doing that."

England’s recent accomplishments may have drawn the crowds in, but their real achievement will be to claim a maiden World Cup win on home soil, but Buttler acknowledges that the magnitude of the other competing nations will make that an enormous task.

"It is really hard to pick out one. The format of the World Cup is really exciting because you play everyone, and there are world-class players in every team.

^{Buttler expects a strong challenge from Virat Kohli's men}

"Of course, India and Australia traditionally do brilliantly in ICC events and they are two really strong sides, but at the same time I don’t think you can take your eye off any team.

"We just had a really great series against the West Indies over there, and with guys like (Chris) Gayle and (Andre) Russell in the team they are a very dangerous side as well."

However, regardless of the outcome of the World Cup, Buttler is confident that the team will continue to grow and build on their long-term plans.

"We have been working towards this point for a long time and it has been a target for the team and everyone is working towards that but of course there will be changes of personnel and obviously Trevor is not carrying on beyond September.

"I am sure therefore that things will change but I feel as well for this group we can take it further as well past the World Cup.

"We don’t know what is going to happen in the tournament but obviously there is more cricket to be played after the World Cup, so hopefully we can take it further after it as well."