Ramps: T20 harming technique

MARK RAMPRAKASH fears that English top-order batsmen are being influenced by the white-ball formats to the detriment of the ‘tried and trusted county opener’. England’s batting coach accepted it is not easy going in against the new ball in this country, but the Test team’s search for reliable batsmen at No 2 and No 3 has been placed into sharp focus by the form of Keaton Jennings and Gary Ballance. ‘When the ball does a little bit, you have to show due care,’ said Ramprakash. ‘But perhaps a mix of one-day and four-day cricket means the players want to be a bit more proactive. ‘With T20 being prevalent, a higher percentage of the batters we are seeing come through are gravitating to the white-ball game, so there are not as many of your tried and tested county openers. ‘No one is saying this England side is the finished article. Clearly, we’re still trying to bed in players at two and three. It’s been the case for a while.’ Jennings averages 29 in Tests, while Ballance has scored two fifties in his last 24 Test innings.