England recall all adds up for keen Keaton
FOR a man currently juggling cricket with an accountancy degree, Keaton Jennings clearly has a head for figures.
But there’s one number that will be weighing heavily on his mind — an average of just 25 in 17 Tests.
In Asia, though, that number jumps to 44, which is the main reason why England have called him up for the two-Test series of
Sri Lanka after 12 months in the international wilderness.
Both of Jennings’ Test centuries have come on the continent where he looks most at home.
He struck 112 on his debut against India in Mumbai in December 2016 and then followed that up with another century against Sri Lanka in Galle on England’s last tour there two winters ago.
Since then he has endured mixed fortunes at the top of the order but has had plenty to occupy his mind away from the crease.
And when he calls time on his career, Jennings clearly won’t be short of options.
For now though, he’s looking to make the most of every opportunity that comes his way having shone for the England Lions in Australia recently.
“I’ve just finished an online tutorial on management accounting which has absolutely fried my head,” said Jennings.
“We won a game and then I was up at six the next morning to do a tutorial. I planned to be at home for the majority of the winter but I think I’ve only spent six or seven weeks there.
“At the end of the day though, I’m travelling the world doing what I love.”
The degree alone would be enough for most people but now Jennings could be thrust back to the top of the England order on some of most demanding pitches in world cricket.
You could forgive him for wondering if he has bitten off more than he can chew — that, though, isn’t Jennings’ style.
He said: “I’ve got three modules I need to finish. When I said I would do them this winter I was told that would be quite a lot of work but I told them it wasn’t a problem – maybe I should have listened to them.
“Funnily enough, the more I’ve taken on, the more I feel like I’ve enjoyed my cricket. I think it has helped my play in a weird kind of way.
“I want to continue pushing myself from a business sense and not necessarily make plans for life after cricket but just continue to develop.”
If Jennings is called on in Sri Lanka then Joe Root will hope that his studious approach brings benefits on the pitch as well
as off it.