A belligerent batting lineup is the dream of most international teams. Add in a coach who firmly believes in that style and a team where almost everyone has at least a first-class hundred and the ability to hit monster sixes, and England possess a unit that could beat the best bowling units on most days.
Having batting depth on the team sheet served them magnificently in their 2019 ODI World Cup triumph and their T20 World Cup victory in 2022. And on their way to the T20Is against India and the T20 World Cup next year in India and Sri Lanka, England. They seem to be taking the same shape.
“That gives a lot of depth to the XI and confidence to the guys at the top that there is a lot [of batting] to come,” Buttler said on the eve of the series opener in Kolkata. “So we can be really aggressive and, you know, not worry too much about our ground, because we have guys behind us who can do exactly the same thing. job.
“We are really blessed in terms of the bowlers we have here, on this tour. They are all very, very capable bats. I think if you look at guys like Gus Atkinson with a Test hundred, and then Brydon Carse is an excellent hitter. of the ball, and then Adil Rashid in 11th place [No. 10 on the team sheet for the first T20I] which has several hundred first class. So, yeah, I think we’re very fortunate in that sense that a lot of our pitchers are very, very capable hitters.”
“It’s a new challenge for him to come play in India,” Butter said. “But I know he’s excited [for it].
“I think he’s been someone who in English cricket has been talked about for a while knowing the talent he has, even when he’s been playing at Under-19 level. So, he was a name you would hear about and he’s going to to be a special player. And I think all the credit goes to him. I think he has done very well coming into international cricket.
“And he’s got a good head on his shoulders, and obviously, he’s got the game for it, as you’ve seen on the white-ball thing. And then obviously moving on to Test cricket, you know, it’s fantastic. Watch him in New Zealand “So yeah, he’s been playing very well.”
However, for Buttler, having the opportunity to work with Brendon McCullum for the first time (Buttler has not been in the Test team since McCullum took over as Test coach) is especially exciting. But even more so so that the management can work with their best players. Nobody’s workload is being managed, fast bowlers like Jofra Archer and Mark Wood are injury-free, and that’s as perfect a situation as England can imagine as they face a coaching transition that wants to build the Champions Trophy. and next year’s T20 World Cup.
“It’s a really exciting tour, coming to India with what I would say is a full lineup for us,” Buttler added. “You know sometimes there is so much cricket that certain players have to be rested or controlled. But that is certainly not the case for us in this series. So we have a full complement of players, which is really exciting. Obviously, Baz as well enters the cue ball setup for the first time.
“[I] I also want to build that captain-coach alliance. Obviously it’s not a new setup because Baz has been around for a while and there are a lot of players on this team who have been with him in the trial setup for a number of years.
“So, yeah, I’m looking forward to building that relationship in the white-ball system. It’s going to be a great series against a really superior team on their own terms. So there’s a lot to look forward to.”
Sreshth Shah is Deputy Editor at ESPNcricinfo. @sreshthx