Jos Buttler says England have healthy competition for places

Jos Buttler says there is plenty of competition for places in the England team ahead of their must-win World Cup match against Bangladesh in Adelaide next Monday.

There has been much speculation that Alex Hales might be given his first taste of competitive World Cup action at the expense of Gary Ballance, who has been playing at No 3 in the batting line-up.

Many cricket experts also think that Buttler should be moved up the order and England’s wicketkeeper-batsman believes the uncertainty over selection will create an added spark in the days leading up to their critical clash.

Buttler said: "We've got three training days here where guys who aren't in the side are desperate to put their hands up to say they should be playing.

“And the guys who are already in the side and haven't performed as well as they would have liked want to get some form and say, 'No I am the right man and stick with me'.

"That makes for healthy competition for the team."

And speaking to Sky Sports News HQ, Buttler said “It’s a simple situation. We’ve got to win two games and maybe it’s good to have that pressure on ourselves.

“Hopefully that will bring out a performance. We have to play better than we have done, if we want to get through to the quarter-finals.”

As for changing the batting order, Buttler added: “We have to be flexible. If we make a good start, then maybe players can be moved up the order to take it on a bit more.

“But if we make a tough start guys may have to play different roles. But we need to post big scores, and post them consistently.”

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England have already lost matches against Group A’s three big teams – Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka – and have so far only defeated Scotland.

They now have to beat Bangladesh and Afghanistan to avoid an embarrassing exit in the group stage, with many believing selecting Hales to play in the games would help their cause.

And Buttler said of Hales: "He's an explosive player, I think he's a fantastic player and he will be a fantastic player for England in the future.

"I think he enjoys the big occasion, obviously there was that fantastic hundred he got in the World Twenty20 against what turned out to be the eventual champions.

We have to be flexible. If we make a good start, then maybe players can be moved up the order to take it on a bit more

"If he gets his chance I'm sure, having sat on the sidelines for a while, that he is desperate to do well."

England returned to training in Adelaide on Friday ahead of Monday’s crunch match.

Watch England v Bangladesh live on Monday, March 9th, on Sky Sports2 HD