Lancashire’s Liam Livingstone and Jos Buttler have been selected in England’s 16-man squad for the five match IT20 series against India.
Livingstone is the only addition to the 15-man squad that beat South Africa in 3-0 series whitewash before Christmas.
Lancashire’s Matt Parkinson has been added to the squad as a reserve spin bowling option.
An impressive Big Bash League (BBL) stint with the Perth Scorchers has led to a recall to the international fold for Livingstone.
He amassed 426 runs in 14 games of this year’s edition.
Averaging 30.42 at a strike rate of 133.96, Livingstone scored 77 in the final challenger to send the Perth Scorchers into the BBL 2021 final, where they were defeated by the Sydney Sixers.
Livingstone will have to pull out of playing in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) for Peshawar Zalmi.
The tournament is being played at the same time as the IT20 series with India.
Buttler will return to the England set up for the T20 series and following one day series with India.
The wicketkeeper batsman flew home from the test series after the first test victory against India in Chennai.
England are granting their multi format players an extended break at home with their families due a hectic 2021 international cricket schedule.
30-year-old Buttler sits 22nd in the IT20 batting rankings.
Buttler has played 74 IT20 games, averaging 29.26 at an impressive strike rate of 140.36.
It is likely that Buttler will once again open the batting for England in the short format of the game.
Lancashire leg spin bowler Matt Parkinson is on the reserve list for the squad, that only includes one frontline spin option in Adil Rashid of Yorkshire.
Parkinson will travel with the squad that departs for India on February 26.
England look to stay No.1 in World Rankings
The five-match series begins on Friday March 12.
All five games will take place in the mammoth 110,000 seat Sardar Patel Stadium Ahmedabad.
England currently sit top of the Men’s IT20 Team Rankings, with India sat in third.
