Dom is finally hitting top gear
IT may have taken him a while to pass his driving test – but Dominic Sibley’s L-plates at the top level have already been consigned to history.
Sibley was one of the standout performers for England on their recent triumphant tour to South Africa.
The Warwickshire opener finished the series with 324 runs at an average of 54.
That tally included a maiden Test century in a famous England victory at Cape Town back in January.
His form has secured him a place at the top of the order for England’s tour to Sri Lanka.
And that could well earn him an opening berth alongside his former chauffeur Rory Burns when the next Ashes series rolls around in 2021-22.
“I didn’t pass my driving test until I was about 20, I was useless,” he said.
“I failed my theory test about four times. Rory was my taxi driver!
“I grew up with Burnsy, I made my second-team debut, first-team debut and then my Test debut batting with Burnsy, which is pretty cool.”
Ironically, it was in Burns’ absence that Sibley found his feet in the longest format after struggling initially in New Zealand at the tail-end of last year. Sibley, 24, was the senior partner in comparison to Zak Crawley, 22, for the remainder of the series.
The pair’s 107 partnership in Johannesburg was England’s first opening century pairing in the first innings of a Test since July 2009 with Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss.
And with Burns’ injury, Crawley and Sibley are likely to be given the chance to continue their run together in Sri Lanka next month.
Sibley said: “Opening the batting is such a tough job.
“You’re facing bowlers when they’re at their freshest, they’re steaming in and if you fail then you cop it.
“It’s the toughest place to bat and you go through those ups and down with each other.”
Suddenly, from scrabbling around for openers, England have competition for places.
And Sibley will hope that he can keep England in the driving seat.
★ENGLAND skipper Heather Knight reckons new head coach Lisa Keightley’s quiet approach will lead to success. Aussie Keightley took over from Cricket World Cup winner Mark Robinson last year. Knight said: “Myself and Lisa have a good relationship and that can bring success.”