England head coach Brendon McCullum feels that India has come well in the five -match Test series and has come with confidence.

England head coach Brendon McCullum believes that India is well prepared and full of confidence for the upcoming five -match Test series, but his team is also clear where it wants to stay in the eagerly anticipated performance in Leeds since June 20. The series will shut down the new World Test Championship cycle of India.

McCullum told ‘Sky Sports Cricket’, “He is an excellent cricket nation who will come here with high hopes, and we are eager to see him.”

England, on the other hand, have completed a whitewash of the West Indies in the six-match white-chain series. Their focus now turns into red-ball format as they are ready to take India and also ready for Ashes later this year.

“It is important that people refreshed. We know where we want to go as a test team.”

England will be without pacer Mark Wood, which has been excluded from at least three tests due to injury. Fellow Quick Joffra Archer will also recall the initial test, while Gas Atkinson is still recovering from the Hamstring Strain. Despite the failures, McCullum is confident of England’s bowling options.

“There are some quality bowlers who are unavailable, but we have a good, diverse bowling attack for Chris Woakes, Sam Cook, Bridan Cars, Jamie Overton, Josh Tong with a high-motion element. We have Shoaib Bashir, who are growing in Test cricket every day. We know that we are ready against India.”

India starts a new era after the retirement of veteran Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and R Ashwin. The team will be headed by Shubman Gill and includes a young lineup which includes Sai Sudarshan and Yashasvi Jaiswal. England all -rounder Jacob Bathpel is called back and McCullum was praised for a 21 -year -old child.

“Bethel has a good life. For a 21 -year -old, he got a real poem, and he allows him to go there and show his nature and talent. The world is his oyster. He is already becoming a leader in the dressing room you want,” said McCullum.

McCullum also mentioned Jamie Smith and Ben Docket as talent to look forward.

“Jamie Smith and Ben Docket have reminded me of Dock and Zak Croli in Test Games. We know how good Docket is, but the power that Smith has is amazing. These people are fearless, and if you add craft, you hope you will end with a goal player.”