FOR Lancashire star Jos Buttler the time for talking about improvement is over, it is results that count as England prepare to take on Australia in the opening match of the Cricket World Cup tomorrow.

England head into the contest as underdogs with most of the opinion that this tournament has come a little too soon for a talented group of young players, of which Buttler, at 26, is one.

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But the Red Rose wicketkeeper believes Eoin Morgan’s side can still shine down under and is targeting a winning start against the Aussies.

“Now we know that we have to perform,” said Buttler.

“That (talk of improvement) doesn’t really wash any more. It’s about being in a tournament, playing games of cricket and getting to a quarter-final and taking it from there and getting as far as we can.”

The young talent was enough to get England to the tri-series final - twice beating world champions India - but not to secure a win against Australia.

Buttler meanwhile, is still searching for a permanent position in the batting order, he came in at seven in the last warm-up match against Pakistan, although the Lancashire star certainly has the firepower to be a huge threat higher up the order.

For now Buttler is happy to fulfil the role, content to do what the team asks of him.

“I don’t really have (a favoured batting position),” he said.

“Coming into the England set-up, the back-end of an innings is where I’ve had a lot of success, trying to close out innings with 10-15 overs to go. I think that is a good place for me to bat. I’m ambitious to score bigger scores and I don’t want to be pigeon-holed as someone who can only finish an innings.

“I want to be someone who can bat for 35-40 overs and get big hundreds. That’s my ambition and if I get a chance to do that at any point then it is down to me to try and take those opportunities.

“At the time you do what is required of you in the best place where the coach and captain see you in the team.”

This stage of Buttler’s career is reflective of an England team largely in its infancy as they prepare for the World Cup.

The gloveman has seen much change in his two years in the international set-up, after making his ODI debut against Pakistan in Dubai, and nine of England’s 15-man squad here have never played at a World Cup before.

“It’s different. When I first started Jonathan Trott and KP were still in and around and there was Graeme Swann,” he said. “It’s a much younger side and probably a much more exciting one.”