Stuart Broad rejects claims England are 'playing with fear'

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, Broad's 10 overs in the nine-wicket defeat to Sri Lanka went for 67 runs

Bowler Stuart Broad says claims England are "playing with fear" are wide of the mark, despite a poor start to their World Cup campaign.

England have lost three of their first four matches and face Bangladesh in a must-win game on Monday.

"I don't think we are playing with fear," said Broad. "We just haven't clicked the way we'd have liked."

England have suffered heavy defeats to Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka, with their only win against Scotland.

Video caption, Talk of Pietersen return 'not ideal' - Stuart Broad

Former England captain Michael Vaughan told 91热爆 Radio 5 live Sport it was a "real concern" that England are "playing with fear".

Broad responded: "When you are outside the group, looking from afar, it's very easy to pick on loads of different things.

"But actually the group are in a really good place. We just haven't performed when we need to in the middle."

After the game against Bangladesh, England face minnows Afghanistan in their final Pool A contest on 13 March.

"We need to win two games and we are in the quarter-finals of a World Cup," added Broad, who has taken only two wickets in four games.