Jennings as opener

opener. And his average in England of 17.72 is the worst in home conditions for any Test opener who has played 18 innings or more.

To put that figure into perspective, Stuart Broad averages 23.35 in England.

Most damning of all is this: five of Jennings’ nine dismissals this series have been lbw or bowled. Against deliveries from the Indian seamers that would have hit the stumps, he has averaged 1.33.

Jennings started his Test career well when scoring a hundred on debut against India in Mumbai, following it up with a half-century in his next Test at Chennai. Since then, though, his record is awful.

After being dropped last summer, this is Jennings’ second chance at Test level. He must now be taken out of the firing line for his own good – and the team’s.

Just because England would prefer not to pick two new openers does not mean they should carry on selecting a player who looks a busted flush.

Surrey captain Rory Burns seems certain to come into the squad this winter for the retiring Cook. And while there is a dearth of options to replace Jennings, Smith and James Taylor, the chief selector’s right-hand man, are paid to figure out problems such as this.

Kent’s Joe Denly, Worcestershire captain Daryl Mitchell and Surrey’s Mark Stoneman – dropped from the Test squad earlier this summer – are three options who could assume Jennings’ spot.

Whoever they go for, the selectors must not fall into the trap of sticking with the status quo, even if Cook’s retirement complicates issues. It is time. Jennings must go.