England they are all ready to start their long awaited white football journey India and a five-match T20I seriesfrom January 22, 2025, at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
England's new chapter of pure cricket under Brendon McCullum
This series has a special meaning because it will be the beginning of a new season Brendon McCullumEngland's recently appointed national football coach. McCullum, who changed the Test side in England and “Baseball” approach, he is now tasked with injecting new energy into the reductionist methods of society.
Following the T20Is, England will play three ODI matches as part of their preparations for the tournament. ICC Champions Trophy 2025which is expected to be held in Pakistan later this year. The tour is expected to test England's adaptability in subcontinental environments and their ability to adapt between nations. For McCullum, this could be a valuable opportunity to establish his philosophy in short, to build England's history in white ball cricket.
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No Jos Buttler as England wicketkeeper in India T20Is
In a major development ahead of the T20I series, McCullum revealed this If Buttler, The England captain and one of the most versatile players in modern cricket, does not wear wicketkeeping gloves. This means that the positions will be given to the only alternative available in the team ie Phil Saltwho has impressed as a wicketkeeper batsman in recent outings. This decision is based on a combination of strategic thinking and Buttler's management.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference at the Eden Gardens, McCullum confirmed that the decision benefits the team in several ways. It reduces Buttler's workload, allowing him to focus on his captaincy and batting role, while also giving Salt a stable role to develop as a reliable gloveman. Salt's dual ability with bat and glove complements the team well, ensuring that England remain flexible in their rotation.
“It's too late to talk about it. Look, the thing he won't do, he won't keep wickets in this series. He's going to catch them from the field and I think that's a good thing for us because it gives Josh the opportunity to have the final word with the kicker and have that relationship in the last minute and not be 22 yards away. And we have good ways to keep inside the side,” McCullum said.
“I think when it comes to T20s, I think we can expect to be very close. The build-up to that can be done in the next 48 hours before we go in. Look, we've got a really good team. We've got a lot of flexibility in the squad. We've got heaps of options to go with. I just want to make sure we can putting everything together gives us a great opportunity,” McCullum concluded.