Follow UsEngland have named three tearaway quicks - Mark Wood, Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson - in their playing XI for the first T20I against India at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on January 22 (Wednesday).
Ben Duckett, who played the last of his 12 T20Is in December 2023, has also been included in the XI.
The left-handed batter, who slammed 243 runs in seven games @ 34.71 and a strike rate of 154.77 for Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League (BBL) 2024-25, will open alongside Phil Salt, with skipper Jos Buttler batting at No.3. Moreover, Buttler has opted against donning the wicketkeeping gloves, with Salt stepping in for him.
Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, and Jamie Overton will form the middle order, with the latter three also providing Buttler with more bowling options.
Adil Rashid is the only frontline spinner in the playing XI, with spin-bowling all-rounders Livingstone and Bethell set to chip in if and when needed.
Ben Duckett, Phil Salt (wk), Jos Buttler (c), Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood