England’s Jos Buttler had another disappointing outing in the Super 8 encounter against Sri Lanka in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which was held at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. Buttler could manage only 7 runs off 14 balls, which was a continuation of his poor show in the tournament. Buttler was trapped lbw by left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage while trying to play a reverse shot. It was clear that Buttler was struggling against the spinners. Also Read | Watch: Unbelievable! Batter Leaves the Ball but Still Smashes a Six in One Day Cup England Faces New Challenges Because of Their Early Dismissal The fourth over of England’s innings led to the dismissal of the England batter. Wellalage bowled a flighted delivery on a good length that angled into Buttler. Former England skapper ltered his batting position to attempt a reverse shot. However, he failed to make contact and was struck on the pads in front of the stumps. The review confirmed that the ball would hit the middle of the stumps. Buttler tries something different…and pays the price. 👀Wellalage keeps it simple and sends the English opener back. Massive moment in the match! 🔥ICC Men’s #T20WorldCup | Super 8 #SLvENG | LIVE NOW 👉 https://t.co/dZWPZfqfbO pic.twitter.com/i3F0Gfum7I — Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) February 22, 2026 Buttler has struggled to find his batting rhythm throughout the entire inning. He struggled to rotate strike and did not seem confident at the crease. His innings of 7 off 14 balls has once again put pressure on England’s middle order. His performance in the World Cup has resulted in him scoring 26, 21, 3, 3, and 7. For a player known for his explosive starts and his fearless stroke play, these scores are well below par. Struggles Against Spin Continue Buttler’s spin performance in T20 internationals since 2025 has become a cause of concern. The figures clearly show that there is a decline in his performance. Stat Category Numbers Innings 17 Runs 227 Balls Faced 165 Dismissals 13 Average 17.46 Strike Rate 137.6 Dot Ball % 30.5% A top-order batter should not have an average of 17.46 against spin. The high dot-ball percentage shows he is getting stuck at the crease. Teams are clearly targeting him with spin early in the innings. Butler once demonstrated complete control over every type of bowler. He used his feet well, swept with control and attacked spinners over midwicket and extra cover. But recently, he has looked unsure. Pre-planned shots, like the reverse hit against Wellalage, have not worked in his favour. What Buttler Needs to Change With crucial matches ahead in this T20 World Cup, England need their premier batter back in form. Buttler may need to go back to basics. Instead of looking for big shots early, he could focus on spending more time at the crease and rotating strike. The improvement of footwork against spin will serve as the most important element. Using the crease better and picking length earlier can help him regain confidence. Even a steady 30 or 40 at the top can give England a strong platform. The outcome of major tournaments depends on experienced players who perform their best during critical moments. Buttler has delivered outstanding performances at world tournaments. England will hope he finds his rhythm quickly, because the margin for error in the Super 8 stage is very small.