Jamie Smith solves England’s critical problem in Test cricket

For the majority of Ben Stokes era, Jonny Bairstow was the first-choice keeper of England as far as Test cricket is concerned. His flamboyance and ability to play an aggressive brand of cricket in Tests made him a key component in the England team but due to inconsistency and ability to adapt to different situations, the Three Lions had to look for other profiles.

When Bairstow was out injured for a significant amount of time during the 2022-23 season, Ben Foakes was trusted with the role. He did well to start with but in the 2023-24 season, Foakes averaged 20.50 after five matches and eventually got dropped. His performance on the recent tour to India was taken into consideration and after which, the team management decided to bring a new face in the form of Jamie Smith.

The 24-year-old had done well in first-class cricket but there were doubts if he could play in the same manner in international matches. However, in a short span, Smith has proved to be a valuable asset as the cricketer has managed to play vital knocks against West Indies and Sri Lanka. In the first Test against Sri Lanka, Smith had a bigger role with Ben Stokes not being there and he did his job perfectly to help England take a lead in the first innings.

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Smith made 72* runs and built crucial partnerships with Harry Brook and Chris Woakes and would now hope to help England take a significant lead on Day 3. Former cricketer Stuart Broad was highly impressed with Smith’s knock and explained how the cricketer solved a major problem in Test cricket. 

“He's been superb. Ultimately, this exact scenario England are in now is the reason he got picked, so when he is batting No 7, when Ben Stokes is here, and with the tail, they still feel they can find the boundary and add a good amount of runs when the lower order are in. It's a great opportunity for him, he's already played really nicely for his 70. Jonny Bairstow is one of the best I've seen at it - when fielders are all on the boundary batting with a No 11, he still finds the boundary,” Broad told Sky Sports.

“If Jamie Smith hangs around on Friday morning and bats with the No 10 and 11, he'll have the opportunity of pushing twos when he needs to, taking the strike, farming the strike and hitting sixes when he can. He's got all of the ability to do it, it's just being put in that scenario under pressure, and he might find an opportunity to do so,” Broad added.

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England keen on giving Smith a run before away tours

England are likely to give Jamie Smith plenty of opportunities keeping the Ashes tour in mind. He has done well in home conditions thus far and it needs to be seen whether he can keep up the template in the upcoming away tours against Pakistan and New Zealand.