Kolkata, Jan 21 (NationPress) England's captain Jos Buttler is enthusiastic about having a “full line-up” for the white-ball series against India. The wicketkeeper-batter stressed that there are no concerns regarding workload or injuries as they prepare for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan and Dubai.

With Brendon McCullum now at the helm as England's all-format coach, the team is eager to perform well in the three-match T20I series commencing at Eden Gardens on Wednesday.

“This is a truly exciting tour, arriving in India with what I would consider a full line-up for us. At times, there is so much cricket that certain players need rest or management. But that is definitely not the case for us in this series. We have a complete squad, which is thrilling. Notably, Baz is stepping into the white-ball setup for the first time too,” Buttler remarked ahead of the T20I series opener.

“I also aim to foster that captain-coach relationship. While it’s not a brand-new structure since Baz has been around for some time, many players in this squad have collaborated with him in the Test setup for several years.”

“I’m eager to develop that rapport in the white-ball format. It promises to be an excellent series against a highly competitive team in their home grounds. So, there’s plenty to anticipate,” he added.

Buttler also underscored England's strong squad balance, highlighting that they have numerous batters who can bowl in limited-overs, adding crucial depth to their batting lineup. “This provides significant depth to the XI and instills confidence in the top-order players that there is ample batting depth to follow. Therefore, we can adopt an aggressive approach and not worry excessively about losing our wicket, knowing that we have capable players behind us,” said the wicketkeeper.

“We are indeed fortunate regarding the bowlers on this tour. They are all exceptional batters. If you examine players like Gus Atkinson, who has a Test century, and Brydon Carse, who is an outstanding hitter, plus Adil Rashid down at No. 11 (No. 10 on the team sheet for the first T20I), who has numerous first-class hundreds. We are fortunate that many of our bowlers are also excellent batters,” Buttler remarked.

England has announced their playing XI for the first T20I on Tuesday, featuring Jacob Bethell alongside Phil Salt, Buttler, Ben Duckett, Harry Brook, and Liam Livingstone as batting power, while Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Gus Atkinson, and Jamie Overton will spearhead the pace attack. Adil Rashid is the only full-time spinner in the playing XI.

Buttler praised Bethell, who has maintained an average of 57.66 and a strike rate of 167.96 in his six T20I innings.

“It’s a new challenge for him to come and play in India. However, I know he’s eager for it. He has been a talked-about talent in English cricket for a while, even during his Under-19 days. His name has been frequently mentioned as someone who will be a special player. All credit to him; he has transitioned into international cricket brilliantly,” Buttler stated.

“He possesses a strong mindset and has the skills required, as demonstrated in white-ball formats. His performance in New Zealand Test cricket was also fantastic. So, he’s been performing exceptionally well,” he added.