Jos Buttler has promised a more positive England team than ever after receiving Christmas presents encouraging him to smile more and practising looking upbeat in the mirror.

When Brendon McCullum was appointed England’s white-ball coach he said his primary task was getting his captain’s smile back after a bruising period that had seen him become snappy and quiet. Buttler said McCullum’s appointment as all-format head coach and some time away from the game with a calf injury had reinvigorated him.

“I’m in a good place,” he said ahead of Wednesday’s first T20 against India in Kolkata. “I’ve been practising my smile in front of the mirror. A few Christmas presents may have been egged in that way, but I feel in a really good place. I’m excited.

“I was a Brendon McCullum fan as a player, and would have always loved to play with him. So to get the chance to work with him as the coach, and having seen the impact he and his coaches have had – he’s very big on method – is exciting.

“I had some time away from the game, which was forced by injury, but actually it was probably healthy as well. You get a bit of perspective and a new baby, children, give you that in abundance. Little things, like putting on the England kit, and looking around the ground here and taking it all in, looking around the dressing room and going ‘wow, this is a serious squad of players,’ that’s exciting.”

Buttler admitted that he had become grumpy: “Maybe. Results can do that. We all talk about wanting to play exciting stuff and enjoy it. In professional sport, the results do want to play a part in that.

“I’ve had some good conversations with Baz [McCullum] about that. At this time of your career, and hopefully I’ve still got a bit of time left, to make this the best time of your career.

“I played against Baz all those years ago in that [2015] World Cup game in Wellington, when he had four slips and a gully from ball one. So, whether I’ll quite get that far, we’ll have to see.”

Buttler and McCullum named the first team of their alliance, installing Ben Duckett as England’s opening batsman across all formats. Duckett will open with Phil Salt, who takes the wicketkeeping gloves ahead of Buttler and Jamie Smith, with the captain ensconced in his new position at first drop. Vice-captain Harry Brook spearheads a powerful middle order that includes Jacob Bethell and Jamie Overton, one of four genuinely fast bowlers alongside Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer and Mark Wood.

Buttler promised that all players, including the overlooked Smith, would get an opportunity on the eight-match tour of India.

Here’s the five biggest calls of the new era ...

Duckett up top

In the three-format era, only Marcus Trescothick – now England’s batting coach – has been first choice in every format for a considerable period of time. Duckett has the chance to follow him, by playing in a very similar style in all three formats. Under Matthew Mott, he did not receive many white-ball opportunities, and he has not opened in a T20 since his debut in 2019.

“He’s got an excellent reputation against spin but actually when the field is up in the powerplay, I think he has even more options,” said Buttler. “With only two fielders out, he’s an incredibly tough guy to defend with all the different areas that he can hit the ball. He’s been playing brilliantly well in all formats. You look at someone in England cricket now who could open the innings in every format of the game – I think it’s credit to the way he’s played over the last few years and he fully deserves his chance.”

Buttler drops the gloves – and installs Brook as right-hand man

Duckett will open with Salt, who keeps ahead of the new No 3 Buttler. The captain wants to be closer to his bowlers, and concentrate more on tactics. McCullum made a similar change late in his playing career.

Buttler described his new vice-captain, Brook, as “as positive a captain as I’ve ever seen” when he has stood in. Buttler wants to borrow that attitude and “lean on Brook for advice in the field”. Brook is fast becoming the cross-format heartbeat of English cricket.

Bethell’s rise continues

Six months ago Jacob Bethell was uncapped, but he is rapidly cementing himself as first choice in all three formats, with franchises – including Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore – queuing up to sign him. A stylish No 3 in Tests and crisp middle-order hitter in the white-ball game, with handy bowling and outstanding fielding to boot. Being a left-hander helps, and he may float in the order.

“He’s been someone in English cricket that’s been talked about for a while,” said Buttler. “We know the talent that he possesses, even when he’s been playing in the under-19s, he was a name that you would hear talked about. He’s going to be a special player.”

All-rounder Overton adds snarl

Buttler has known Surrey’s Jamie Overton since their Somerset days, and the pair were first in an England squad together 13 years ago. Overton has taken time to find his role, but it is a sought-after one: finisher with the bat, nasty fastie with the ball, and bucket hands in the field. He brings a bit of snarl to the England side, too.

“He’s a really well-rounded T20 cricketer now,” said Buttler. “Having seen him at Somerset all those years ago, he’s now a really experienced player, has a great mentality, really aggressive and competitive, which is what we want.”

Emphasis is on serious pace

When it comes to pace bowling, England do not want to do things by halves, only selecting genuine quicks. Overton is one of four quicks in this XI, with Brydon Carse and Saqib Mahmood waiting in the wings. Adil Rashid is the only specialist spinner, but Bethell and Liam Livingstone are handy match-up bowlers. Buttler wants wickets, not defence.

“You need to get ahead, and in this day and age you need to try to get people out,” he said. “If they spend any time at the crease, they can hurt you.”