Jamie Smith is trying to Brendon McCullum for inspiration after being handpicked by England’s head coach because the team’s latest one-day wicketkeeper.
McCullum fast-tracked Smith into the Test side firstly of the summer, skipping a generation as Jonny Bairstow and Ben Foakes were moved aside, and the outcomes were striking enough for him to make the identical decision again when it got here to this month’s ODI series against Australia.
McCullum doesn’t officially take charge of the white-ball setup until January, but there isn’t any query that the charismatic Kiwi is already pulling the strings ahead of Thursday’s opener at Trent Bridge.
It was McCullum who pulled Smith to 1 side at the top of the recent Test series against Sri Lanka and informed him that he had been chosen ahead of T20 keeper Phil Salt to take over from Jos Buttler, who’s currently injured but able to step away from the stumps more permanently to refresh his captaincy.
McCullum made his name as a free-spirited, stroke-making keeper-batter in his own playing days and, if he sees a kindred spirit in Smith, then the sensation is mutual.
White Ball Excitement
“To be told I’m keeping wicket for England in a few formats now could be nice. I came upon just after the last Test finished on the Oval…Baz told me I used to be going to be keeping,” he said.
“Him taking charge of the white-ball side was a little bit of a surprise, I wasn’t expecting it in any respect, but within the short time period I actually have spent with him, he’s been implausible.
“He’s kind of what I look to be as a cricketer, I assume: that nice attacking wicketkeeper-batsman.
It gives you confidence to have someone there that’s had that kind of experience.
“You don’t are inclined to get too many wicketkeepers which can be coaches and have a vital role within the side, to aid you along the best way, so it’s great to have him.”
While Bairstow built much of his cricketing identity around his dual role and Foakes carved out a distinct segment as one of the natural glovemen on the planet, Smith matches a unique profile.
Run Scorer
He has grown up viewing himself at first as a run-scorer, able to step up behind the stumps as needed. And, having played much of his domestic profession alongside Foakes at Surrey, that has not all the time been the case.
“I’d say up so far in my profession it’s been about batting first and I’ve been keeping on the side,” he admitted.
“But that’s about your role within the side. Once you’ve got Ben Foakes in your team, you’re not going to be the wicketkeeper. I used to be comfortable simply to bat since it’s something I really like doing, so it’s a brand new tag for me but an exciting one.
“To maintain within the Test series was a implausible vote of confidence – that you simply’re ok and so they see you pretty much as good enough to exit and perform that role.
“Then it’s just picking up little tricks and suggestions along the best way of what you possibly can work on in several situations.”
England have added Saqib Mahmood to their squad for the series, retaining the Lancashire seamer after he played each T20s last week.
Mahmood played the last of his eight ODIs 18 months ago in Bangladesh and bolsters a crowded attack that already features Jofra Archer, Matthew Potts, Gus Atkinson, Reece Topley and John Turner.
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