BRACEY’S BIG TEST
ENGLAND DEBUT FOR GLO’STERS’ WICKETKEEPER-BATSMAN
ENGLAND captain Joe Root has confirmed that Gloucestershire star James Bracey will be handed the gloves for the first Test against New Zealand, which starts today at Lord’s.
Bracey was widely expected to play following an injury to Ben Foakes last week but the news has now been rubber-stamped by Root and the ECB.
The 24-year-old Bristol-born wicketkeeper-batsman will now become the first Gloucestershire
player since Jon Lewis in 2006 to play in a Test for England, as reward for his fine start to the County Championship season.
Bracey has previously been called up as a reserve by England and was a substitute fielder during the third Test against Pakistan last year but the five-day match against New Zealand will be his first cap.
“He has worked extremely hard and been around the squad for a good while now,” said Root.
“He has a great work ethic and gone back and performed extremely well for Gloucestershire,
so we are really excited to see him take his opportunity.
“We know how good a player he is and he is in great form.”
With Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow rested following their time in the IPL, Bracey has a huge opportunity to prove he can be part of the Test squad moving forward with the Ashes on the horizon at the end of the year.
Bracey has averaged 47.90 with the bat over 11 innings for Gloucestershire in domestic settings this year, coming in at No3, but will likely be at No7 in the order for the Test against the Black Caps.
“It’s hard not to think about it (the Ashes) but I’m trying to stay present, there are seven Test matches this summer and a lot can happen,” Bracey told the ESPN sports network.
“I’m really excited about the possibility of playing two of the world’s best teams this summer and obviously an Ashes tour next winter is another goal as well.”
He added: “We will see how these first few games go and then hopefully I’ll be in a position where I can’t be ignored.”