GRAHAM: AUSSIES CAN WAIT
Root: Foakes is our No.1 keeper now.. and Bairstow must concentrate on his batting JOS READY & WILLING TO BE ENGLAND’S NO.3
BEN FOAKES has been anointed as England’s new No.1 wicketkeeper after Joe Root confirmed he will keep the gloves for the second Test.
Foakes has seen off the challenge of Jonny Bairstow for now with the Yorkshireman approaching full fitness and ready to compete for a spot in the side as a batsman only if he passes a fitness test.
“We’ve come to Sri Lanka to win this tour,” said Root (above). “And in these conditions, I think Ben is the best option behind the stumps and he is going to keep.
“Jonny is still a week or so off being 100 per cent, but he’s mad keen to get back out there and play and what he’s done over the last couple of years has been exceptional.
“Jonny is a fine keeper and he’s pretty much been faultless, not really stood out at all, which is probably a good thing for JAMES GRAHAM says England’s players should not worry over the long gap between playing world champions Australia.
England’s series win over New Zealand led to calls for the a wicketkeeper. Long term we see him as a focal part of the Test team, but it’s a great opportunity for Ben to show his ability and I think you’ve got to reward a performance like last week.”
Foakes claimed his solitary Test was enough of a reward for his dedication and efforts in trying to become an England cricketer, but he has also been singled out for hi s inspirational performance and white-ball keeper Jos Buttler has been taking notes.
“Ben is a fantastic glove man,” said Buttler. “It’s a good reminder and a little wake-up call that he’s the level you need to get to. Just looking personally, he’s a great example to someone like myself as to where I need to get to.”
On arrival at the ground in Kandy, England were taken aback at just how dry the pitch was two days out, which suggests much more assistance for the spinners than originally thought, paving the way for a similar bowling attack to the first Test.
But if England believe that seam is likely to play even less of a role than in Galle, where just 45 overs were sent down all match, they could even bring Bairstow back into the side for James Anderson.
“We need to have another look at the surface and see how we think it’ll play,” added Root.
“A lot depends on that. It’s probably a bit dryer than I anticipated it to be at first look.” Ashes to be brought forward, but that remains in place for 2020 with Great Britain taking on the Kiwis and Pacific nations next autumn. Stand-in skipper Graham said: “All we can do is try to build and not focus on what goes on politically.”
SRI LANKA
ENGLAND TV TIMES: Live on Sky Sports from 4am JOS BUTTLER is willing to be a short-term fix at number three for England to try to secure a series win in Sri Lanka. Having Moeen Ali at first drop ended in double failure at Galle, and with an increasing reliance on his bowling, England want to slip him back down the order. Buttler was slated to do the job in Galle if England had bowled first, so despite the suggestion that either Ben Stokes or the fit-again Jonny Bairstow could take on the role, it is the vice-captain who appears favourite to answer his captain’s call.
“If required, I’m happy to do it,” said Buttler (left). “In this part of the world it doesn’t matter too much where you bat, and I think the style of cricket is very similar, with probably a 90 per cent chance of starting your innings against spin. It would probably just be for this series – in England it is a very different style of cricket.” CARL FRAMPTON claims being written off is driving him on to beat Josh Warrington to become a four-time world champion on December 22.
The Belfast fighter has been dismissed because he is 31 and not held a world title for nearly two years. But as he prepares to face the IBF featherweight champ at Manchester Arena, Frampton said: “There are a few things that motivate me – family, legacy, and people writing me off.”