FOAKES MUSIC

Surrey star had planned a winter away from cricket but after surprise call-up he comes to England’s rescue on his Test debut

Ryan Patel, when Ed Smith gave me a ring and it took me by surprise.

“That month of getting away was beautiful, not thinking I had any cricket round the corner, so it meant I arrived here fresh.

“I’ve had quite a few Lions trips, so the plan was to clear my head and get away from cricket for a while and then come back – but plans change, don’t they?!

“When Rooty came to me to say I was playing, I was pretty surprised, but over the moon. It is pretty surreal and is something that I’ve dreamed about for six or seven years, playing a lot of Lions cricket.”

Foakes might have been making his Test debut in place of injured Jonny Bairstow, but he was far from a novice in these parts as he walked to the middle to begin his 20th innings in Sri Lanka.

A product of England systems and pathways for more than 10 years, Foakes is on his fifth tour to Sri Lanka and the calm authority with which he batted showed just how much he has learned.

Whereas the top order batted with rabid urgency, Foakes and Jos Buttler (below) settled for a more sensible approach after lunch and it paid off. “I’ve been here three times with the Lions, so you get a real sense of how conditions are and how to cope with the heat and the pitches,” added Foakes, after ending the day unbeaten on 87.

“It was my debut and you’re a bit nervous and I didn’t even know what the score was when I went out there, I just batted, and my game plan is to nudge and nurdle and, as it dried out, it got easier to bat.”

In the morning, four out of the top five were bowled playing a selection of shots more suited to a one-dayer than a Test match, but they were following captain’s orders to be bold and adventurous.

Joe Root was as attacking as anyone and looked in fantastic touch, but when he advanced down the pitch and yorked himself, even he might admit the tempo of the innings was out of kilter.

Once Foakes and Buttler calmed things down, Sam Curran also batted sensibly before Adil Rashid closed the day with another flurry.

Foakes got all the acclaim as he walked off. And

Matt Prior, in his role as a commentator, watched on, knowing his record as the only

England wicketkeeper to score a Test century on debut was in real but happy danger.