The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

The case for Ben Foakes in England's Test side

Big Ant's new release, Ashes Cricket, is timed to coincide with the real event (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Roar Rookie
26th September, 2017
10

With England’s Test team facing continued problems in their middle-order, a possible solution is gaining momentum: selecting Ben Foakes as a specialist keeper.

England’s batting woes in their top order have been well documented this summer. While three places in the top five have been under intense scrutiny looking ahead to the Ashes series in November, Mark Stoneman and Dawid Malan now have their places on board the plane bound for Brisbane intact (albeit with no guarantees of a long run in the side).

However debate continues over whether Tom Westley should make the 16-strong touring party at all.

The bottom line is that England need more runs out of their top order to give themselves a fighting chance in the Ashes. First innings runs, as always, will be key to success on the flat tracks of Australia, and England must find a way to get their top run scorers into the danger areas of the batting line-up which are currently frequented by shaky players low on confidence.

Although Ben Stokes has proved he would be more than capable of fulfilling the number five position after another summer of superlative displays with the bat, England should leave him at six, especially as he is likely to bowl more considering his suitability to Aussie pitches.

England could also turn to the other world-class batsman in their line-up currently batting too low down the order: Jonny Bairstow. In Bairstow, England have a ready-made middle order batsman who has been one of their only consistent performers in the last 18 months.

He has become a world-class batsman and England badly need him to perform Down Under. England will argue that Bairstow should be batting at seven for the foreseeable future for several reasons.

Firstly, as a keeper, he needs to bat lower down in case he’s just spent a day-and-a-half in the field. There’s also no point taking the gloves off him now because he’s worked so hard at it, and has got his standards up so high that he hasn’t dropped a catch all summer.

Advertisement

They may also argue that robbing him of the keeping responsibilities would deal him a psychological blow so acute that his batting would then suffer, leaving him unable to concentrate while glaring enviously at the man given the responsibility behind the stumps.

While there’s no doubt that Bairstow’s keeping has improved – and it would indeed be a real kick in the shins to take away his keeping responsibilities – the fact is, his value to this England team is scoring top-order runs.

England's Jonny Bairstow reacts as he is given out lbw as he attempts a sweep shot on 99 runs during day two of the Fourth Test at Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester, England, Saturday Aug. 5, 2017.

(Anthony Devlin/PA via AP)

Bairstow could readily slot in at number four if England management were able to convince their captain to move up to first drop. If Bairstow was to bat at four, it would a tough ask for him to operate behind the stumps.

The solution is to bring in a specialist keeper further down. England have an embarrassment of riches in their lower-middle order what with Stokes and Moeen Ali in their side, so why not use this to their full advantage?

Ali’s stats batting at number seven are phenomenal. In 14 innings there he averages 68.54 with three tons and three half centuries. It has not gone unnoticed that when he bats in the top four he bats like a number eight, and when at eight he bats like a number four. So what about at number sevene then? It could be the perfect slot for him.

This would also mean that if England did bring in a new face to take the keeping gloves, England would be perfectly able to slot him in at number eight and give that player the luxury of being able to concentrate on perfecting his trade in the field with little pressure on his batting.

Advertisement

Ben Foakes of Surrey has had an excellent year at the Oval. In first-class cricket this summer he is averaging a fraction under 48, plus his one-day form was even better (he scored 482 runs at 96 in the RL One-Day Cup). Even his 42 not out against Somerset in the penultimate Championship match to steer his team home under duress shows he has the stomach for a fight. And if there’s one thing this England team will need in Australia, it’s fight.

When Alec Stewart stated last year that Foakes was the “best wicketkeeper in the world”, a lot of expectation came Foakes’ way. Impressively, ever since then his batting has improved even further, while maintaining his exceptional performances with the gloves.

Several changes would need to be put into place to be able to incorporate Foakes into the line-up: moving Root to number three, prising the keeping gloves out of Bairstow’s not inconsiderable grasp, then asking him to bat at number four.

England’s lack of creativity when it comes to selection in recent times makes it unlikely any of these things will happen and Foakes will carry the drinks all winter. If only they had the conviction to roll the dice occasionally, they might just find out what incredible potential they have at their disposal.

close