London: England’s batsmen should continue to be aggressive and play even more shots, wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler has said even as the team’s top-order crumbled against Sri Lanka in the tied first one-day international on Tuesday.

Chasing a target of 287, England were reduced to 30 for four and then 82 for six before Buttler made 93 and Chris Woakes 95 not out to give the hosts a chance of winning at Trent Bridge.

Liam Plunkett then smashed the last ball of the match for six to earn his team a dramatic tie against the touring side.

“If anything we should come out and play even more shots,” Buttler was quoted as saying by the British media. “That’s the way we want to play our cricket. We want to put teams under pressure and there’s no reason to change.

“This style of cricket has been good fun to play in and has given us some success.” England have displayed freedom and exuberance in their approach to the limited-overs formats since their humiliating group stage exit at last year’s 50-over World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Joe Root has been talismanic with the bat for them but the right-hander has suffered a dip in form, scoring 89 in his last five international innings, 80 of which came in one knock.

Buttler feared it might have been caused by the heavy workload on Root’s shoulders.

“He’s one of the best in the world and it’s probably just because of the high standards he’s set ... I’m sure he’ll bounce back,” Buttler said.

“He plays all forms of the game and I think that’s something England management always have to be careful with ... He’s a very important player and if he needs a rest he’ll say he needs a rest and that will happen.”

Meanwhile, England all-rounder Ben Stokes will continue his comeback after knee surgery by playing as a specialist batsman for Durham in the T20 Blast against Yorkshire on Friday evening.

“Looking forward to getting back out on the park for @DurhamCricket against Yorkshire,” Stokes tweeted.

Stokes, who had to have an operation after feeling discomfort in last month’s first Test against Sri Lanka at Headingley, is hoping to be back for England when they face Pakistan at Lord’s in the first match of that series on July 14.

He was on the field again for the first time on Thursday, sharing 12th man duties with Mark Wood — another Durham and England player on the comeback trail after injury — against county champions Yorkshire on the final day at Chester-le-Street.

An England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) spokesman said the pace-bowling all-rounder will play for his county rather than in a club match for Newcastle on Saturday — as was being considered.

Wood has not played since last October’s Test match against Pakistan in Dubai, since then he has had two operations on his left ankle.

The ECB spokesman said: “Mark Wood will play as a batsman for Durham against Sri Lanka A, starting on Sunday.

“He will do his bowling during the intervals.

“If all goes to plan, he will make his full return in the championship fixture against Lancashire on July 16.”