England captain Jos Buttler is confident that his team will be better prepared to defend their T20 World Cup title after experiencing a disappointing defense of their 50-over crown in India last year. England, having won the T20 World Cup in Australia two years ago, are considered favorites for the 2024 tournament in the Caribbean and the United States. However, their recent performance in the 50-over World Cup in India was dismal, with six losses in their first seven matches.

England's struggles included significant defeats such as a nine-wicket loss to New Zealand, a historic loss to Afghanistan, and a record 229-run thrashing by South Africa. Buttler, who managed only 138 runs at an average of 15.33 in nine innings, faced criticism for his roles as captain, wicketkeeper, and batsman. Coach Matthew Mott also received criticism for frequent selection changes. Despite this, Buttler believes the main issue was simply underperformance.

"We just didn't play well enough," Buttler told Sky Sports. He stressed the importance of maintaining clarity while allowing players to play with freedom, indicating that a balance is needed to avoid confusion. "Even if there was a lack of clarity, or whatever you want to call it, I'd still expect us to perform better than we did," he added.

Buttler emphasized that England does not need to overhaul their approach but should ensure they are prepared for different match situations, whether it involves scoring over 200 runs or defending a low total.

England's preparation for the T20 World Cup includes adding former West Indies captain Kieron Pollard to their backroom staff for his local knowledge. The squad features promising players like Phil Salt, Harry Brook, and Will Jacks. The return of fast bowler Jofra Archer, after a long injury layoff, adds excitement to the team. Archer performed well in his first international appearance in 14 months, taking 2-28 in a match against Pakistan.

Buttler, who was named player of the match after scoring 84 off 51 balls in the same game, praised Archer's performance but cautioned against expecting him to immediately return to his peak form. "You could see his emotion taking wickets for England again but we need to temper those expectations because he's not going to be the same straight away," Buttler said. Will Jacks highlighted Archer's value, noting his effective speed and yorkers, calling him "a massive asset for us and we love to have him in our team."

As England prepares for the T20 World Cup, Buttler's leadership and the team's ability to learn from past failures will be crucial in their quest to retain the title.