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Jos Buttler believes the Hundred has made England \u201cvery battle-hardened\u201d ahead of the white-ball series against New Zealand.<\/p>\n
The competition\u2019s third edition concluded at Lord\u2019s on Sunday with Southern Brave winning the women\u2019s competition before Oval Invincibles scooped the men\u2019s prize.<\/p>\n
England begin the T20 leg of the Black Caps\u2019 tour at Chester-le-Street on Wednesday and plenty of players included in their squad have put in solid performances throughout the Hundred.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think everyone\u2019s been playing high-class competitive cricket which is great,\u201d skipper Buttler told a press conference.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThe Hundred I think was a brilliant tournament this year, lots of close games, a high-quality standard of cricket so everyone\u2019s very battle-hardened.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s great that we have a domestic competition that mirrors as closely as we can to international cricket.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not just the Hundred, you\u2019re always looking for stuff, but that\u2019s the great thing about that tournament, every game is televised, people step up and perform, those performances don\u2019t get missed.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s played in a high standard in front of big crowds, it\u2019s great for us to have that tournament on our doorstep and be able to pick players from there.\u201d<\/p>\n
One player who stood out during the competition was seamer Gus Atkinson, who earned a maiden call-up to the England limited-overs squad.<\/p>\n
The 25-year-old has been bowling at an extraordinary pace throughout the Hundred for the Invincibles, reaching speeds of 90mph, although it remains to be seen when he will be handed his England debut.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot sure (if Atkinson will play in the first T20), I think he\u2019s one we want to look after very much,\u201d Buttler said.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously he\u2019s played a lot through the Hundred and obviously the final was only on Sunday.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo we\u2019ll see how he trains today and feels but I think you\u2019ll see him make his debut at some point in the very near future.\u201d<\/p>\n
Buttler faced the paceman during the Hundred final, where his Manchester Originals side lost to the Invincibles, but he is looking forward to seeing Atkinson in action for England.<\/p>\n
The Hundred I think was a brilliant tournament this year, lots of close games, a high-quality standard of cricket so everyone\u2019s very battle-hardened<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m really excited to see him, obviously lots of people have been very aware of him for a while, and the pace he can bowl at, that\u2019s a rare commodity, guys who can bowl that fast,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo we\u2019re really excited for him, just encourage him to be himself even though he\u2019s now in an England shirt and excited to play on the same team as him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI faced him a couple of times in the Hundred and he\u2019s got great pace, and I think he\u2019s a really exciting prospect for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wednesday\u2019s match is the first of four T20s followed by four ODIs ahead of a busy white-ball period which culminates with the 50-over World Cup in October, but the jam-packed schedule provides plenty of opportunities within the team.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think you always have a bit of a plan, but they\u2019re always changeable, I think during the series and things can happen obviously,\u201d Buttler added.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo obviously our main priority is the New Zealand ODI series. We see that as a really competitive series against a top team.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt would be great to get what we think is our best squad together and team together, look at a few combinations for the World Cup and that\u2019s probably the highest priority at the moment.<\/p>\n
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\u201cBut any game you play for England is huge and we want to win. I think that\u2019s something that always shines through whatever team we put up.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe believe it\u2019s a team that can win as well. So I\u2019m really looking forward to this series.\u201d<\/p>\n