THE ONLY WAY WAS ESSEX FOR FOAKES AND BLUNDELL
A club side in England has seen two of their former players, from different countries, go on to score debut Test centuries. Ian Oxborrow finds out more
When it comes to producing wicketkeeper-batsmen capable of scoring a century on Test debut, you need to look no further than a club side in England.
Founded in 1862, Colchester and East Essex has for many years had a reputation as a breeding ground for players good enough to make a career in the domestic game with county side Essex.
But after the performance of Ben Foakes for England in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle, in which he struck a sparkling 107, the club can now lay claim to another success.
Foakes, you see, isn’t the first to have played for Colchester in recent years and go on and represent his country with acclaim.
Back in 2012 he was joined in their Shepherd Neame Essex League Premier Division team by Tom Blundell. The New Zealander just happens to have been the last international wicketkeeper to score a century on his Test debut, against the West Indies in 2017. He was also the first Kiwi to do so.
Foakes, 25, had been on the cusp of England selection for the past couple of years after solid performances for Surrey.
Blundell, meanwhile, added a second Test appearance and has played three T20 Internationals. He came to Colchester as an overseas player from Wellington. Those who saw the pair up close during the early years of their career in England saw their potential – but did they expect this level of success?
Andrew Kennedy has been involved at Colchester for 33 years as a player, club captain and now chairman and is also on the General Committee at Essex, the county side of past England captains such as Alastair Cook, Nasser Hussain, Graham Gooch and Keith Fletcher.
He said Foakes always looked a “class above” and his maturity stood out, especially as a teenager.
“He has the best hands I have seen on a keeper. I always thought he would become a pro but with the current crop of keepers I thought it might be some time before he got a go with England – but everything lined up and he took his chance.”
Kennedy told how Blundell, 28, came to England as a batsman who bowled off-spin, but left a couple of years later as a wicketkeeper.
“He scored pretty heavily but not to the extent as Ben and was only just developing his keeping skills at that point.
“Tom was very quiet at the time but I met him in India last year and he is a confident outgoing guy now and really laid back and down to earth.”
Another to witness both Foakes and Blundell at close quarters was opening bowler Ben Stephens, who is also executive director of the Root Academy which is linked to the England captain, Joe Root.
He said both were quite raw when they first started playing for Colchester but they clearly had exceptional talent which was paired with a ferocious appetite for improvement.
“I spent a lot of time training with them and their work ethic was unbelievable,” he said. “Foakes would be at a training session all day with Essex and would then message me saying he wants to come to the ground for a club session.
“Blundell as well would train and train and train, hit balls, catch ball after ball. We’d just played Saturday and Sunday and were shattered
I can’t think of anyone who tops those two in terms of quality players from those I’ve played with and against BEN STEPHENS Former teammate
and then on Monday morning he’d be trying to get me to go training again.
“Foakes was sent to us from neighbouring club Frinton to play a better standard and he immediately shone.
“There was one innings I clearly remember against London side Wanstead – he scored 120 or 130 and it was unbelievable to watch.
“There was one six he hit which went straight over the pavilion off Maurice Chambers [155 First Class wickets for Northamptonshire and Essex] and plugged in the green behind. I remember it because I had to go and fetch it!”
As well as Foakes and Blundell, Colchester at the time were graced with the talents of Graham Napier, who was signed by Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League, and Reece Topley, who has played one-day cricket for England.
But for Stephens, Foakes and Blundell were the two best he has come across at club level.
“I can’t think of anyone who tops these two in terms of quality players from those I’ve played with and against, and that includes England international Tom Westley.”
Foakes became only the fifth keeper in Test history to score a century on debut and second for England after Matt Prior. He is the first England wicketkeeper to score a century in Sri Lanka.