Ed Smith in support of out-of-form batsman Keaton Jennings

Keaton Jennings hasn’t had the best of times in Test cricket. He had a fairytale start to his Test career in 2016 when he racked up a stupendous century against India in his maiden Test at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. In his next match in Chennai, he scored a half-century but thereafter has lost his way in white-clothing cricket. Subsequently, he was sidelined from the squad.

Back in May this year, he made a comeback in England’s Test series against Pakistan but hasn’t quite been able to stamp his authority. He is currently playing in the ongoing Test series against India and could only manage 163 runs in five matches at a dismal average of 18.11. In the meantime, Cook will bow out of international cricket after the ongoing Test at Kennington Oval in London.

I would say Keaton has had a very tough reintroduction to Test cricket

England will next play Sri Lanka in October and November and their team management is in with a conundrum of finding two appropriate opening batters for the tour in Test cricket. Meanwhile, Ed Smith, the national selector, said the batsmen’s travails in English conditions have mostly been due to the prodigious seam movement. Moreover, he has backed Jennings after his lacklustre form following his comeback.

“We have to look at the opening position after Alastair’s retirement so we will have a full and open conversation about all the options. But in the analysis of this summer, I think it has been misunderstood the extent to which the ball has moved extravagantly.

I have never seen the ball swing and seam as much as it has done this summer and some of the pitches have turned as well. That has to be taken into account,” Smith was quoted as saying in Sky Sports prior to the fourth day’s play at Kennington Oval.

“Some of the people who have dropped out of the side have had a full year of international cricket before that decision was made, some of which pre-date me. I would say Keaton has had a very tough reintroduction to Test cricket and that should be taken into account as we move forward,” he added.

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