Jamie Smith ready to step up as England’s wicketkeeper for Test series against West Indies and Sri Lanka

BY MARCUS HOOK

Jamie Smith says he is ready to replace his Surrey team-mate Ben Foakes as England’s wicketkeeper for this summer’s Test series against West Indies and Sri Lanka.

But due to Will Jacks’ involvement in the T20 World Cup, Smith’s primary focus is seizing the opportunity to bat higher up in the order for Surrey than hitherto in the T20 Blast.

While Foakes is still regarded as the best keeper in the country, he has only scored 170 runs at an average 28.33 in the opening rounds of the County Championship. More significantly, since his last Test match half-century well over a year ago, the 31-year-old gloveman has averaged just 20.00 for England.

“I still see myself as a batter who keeps wicket,” said Smith. “I really enjoy keeping wicket and I want to do it as much as possible. But, firstly, you want to get in the team any way you can. You obviously have a little less pressure when you’re not keeping wicket. You can focus a bit more time on your batting. It’s not easy to bat at four and keep.

“I find that if you’re keeping wicket, it’s harder physically, especially if you’re out in the field for a long time. It’s just something you have to get used to, so it’s about training as much as possible.

“There’s going to be a little bit of a fall-off when the best wicketkeeper in the world [namely, Foakes] isn’t playing, but, with me, it’s not going from perfection to someone who looks like they’ve never done it before.

“When Ben does play for England you’re pleased for him as a person that he’s got another opportunity to showcase his skills. Most people will agree that he should have been given a lot more opportunities than he’s had at international level.”

A feature of Smith’s batting last summer and this has been how quickly he puts runs on the board. In the 2023 Hundred he caught the eye playing for Birmingham Phoenix and followed that up earlier this year with a stint, often as an opener, in the International League in Dubai.

“Dubai was my first taste of some franchise stuff and it was a great experience,” said Smith. “It was great to focus a bit of time on my white-ball game. I came back feeling very confident in that side of my game, and it has also translated into my red-ball game.”

When asked if he can see himself opening the innings for Surrey in the Blast, Smith said: “I definitely could. It would suit my game quite nicely, actually, given the positive way I play.

“If that option came my way I wouldn’t shy away from it. It’s not a bad time to bat – when there’s only two men outside the fielding circle.”

PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD