Himself in the danger zone for the cause
With the uncomfortable proximity to swinging bats and flying cricket balls, life under the helmet is not for everyone and many teams routinely use the position as a form of initiation for their most junior member.
The danger of fielding in close has been spelled out twice on this tour, with opposition fielder Pathum Nissanka hospitalised after being hit by a Jos Buttler pull during a pre-series warm-up in Colombo and Rory Burns pinged on the bottom of the neck in the Galle Test.
Jennings realises the dangers associated with the position but appears attracted to the matchturning possibilities attached to it in the sub-continent.
“There was a discussion between a few of us, and the outcome was that I’d go in. On surfaces like this when you feel you’re involved in the game it’s really awesome,” he said.
“It’s close, the ball’s hard and guys are sweeping. You’re going to get hit, you’ve got to accept that. You’re going to get bad balls bowled and you’re in the firing line. But it’s like being intheslipsonagreen seamer in England – you feel like you’re in the game and that you can make an impact. At 6ft 4in I wouldn’t say I’m the traditional type ofplayertogoinbutienjoy it.”
Jennings’ efforts certainly deservetobepartofa winning cause but with the dangerous Niroshan Dickwella still at the crease for Sri Lanka, and the pitch slowing down, he expects England’s search for the final three wickets to be a tense one.
“It’s by no stretch game over. Cricket just doesn’t work like that,” he said. “We need to come out again, be patient with our areas and make sure we take our chances.”
Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews, whose late dismissal for 88 derailed an increasingly impressive pursuit, was confident.
“100%,” he said of his side’s victory chances. “We are 75 runs away, the ball is soft. We have a batsman left at the crease and others can chip in as well. Cricket is a funny game.”