Somerset batsman Jos Buttler yesterday described the news he was to make his first-class debut against Lancashire as the perfect birthday present.

The Wedmore youngster turned 19 on Tuesday. He said: "I found out about 11.30pm when I had a phone call to say I was in the squad as cover for Justin Langer, who was injured.

"It has been a good week. Lots of things have happened and all good things. I am really excited and pleased it has turned out the way I wanted to."

Buttler spent yesterday in the field as Lancashire made 297-5. "I am looking forward to my first knock with the bat," he said. "I just have to take it as another innings and back myself. I don't think I should approach it any differently.

"I still see myself as a batsman first, but I am going to have to work on the wicketkeeping. If I can nail both skills I have a big chance of a future in the game.

"A broken thumb hasn't really helped me but I got a hundred in the last (second XI) game at Hampshire. I would have liked to have been a bit more consistent."

Buttler effectively replaces Carl Gazzard in the Somerset squad. The Cornish wicketkeeper is retiring from professional cricket to work in financial services.

Somerset CCC's director of cricket Brian Rose said: "Carl has been a tremendous servant of Somerset cricket. He played a very important part in the 2005 Twenty20 Cup final win when he was man-of-the-match in the semi-final.

"He has been very unlucky because of the emergence of Craig Kieswetter as a very obvious talent. He was always going to struggle because of him.

"Jos is a player I rate very highly. He is probably playing ahead of schedule. He has a great record in schoolboy cricket but he has a lot of improvement to do on his fielding and wicket-keeping.

"I would describe it as adequate so far but we would be happy if he had to stand in for Craig if needed."