Bracey determined to make himself impossible for England to ignore
James Bracey is determined to make his claims for a regular England place impossible to overlook after an unlikely set of circumstances have left him on the cusp of a Test debut.
Both Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow have been rested from the forthcoming two Tests against New Zealand following their Indian Premier Leagueexertions,meaningBen Foakeswassettoretainwicketkeeping duties for the series.
However, the Surrey gloveman tore his hamstring with a freak slip on a dressing room sock last week so Gloucestershire’s Bracey comes into the reckoning.
He has spent much of the past year training with England as a reserve in extended team bubbles and is now likely to make his bow against the Kiwis in the first Test, which starts at Lord’s today.
While a fortunate turn of events look set to gift him his opportunity, Bracey is determined to capitalise with furtherassignmentsagainstIndia later in the summer and the Ashes in Australia at the back end of the year.
“Alotofthetimethingshappen when you don’t expect them,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of times this winter when I’ve been trying to calculate how I’m getting in the team and how I’m going to get that opportunity. “That time hopefully has now come. I’ve benefited from Foakesy having a freak accident and I think if I put in good performances over the next coupleofgames,thatcouldsee me bed into the squad moving forward.
“I’m looking at each game at a time and this week if I get outthereit’snotonlyanopportunity to push myself with the gloves but really show what I can do with the bat and show that I can do different roles.
“I’mreallyexcitedaboutthe possibilityofplayingtwoofthe world’s best teams this summer and obviously an Ashes tournextwinterisanothergoal aswell.We’llseehowthesefirst few games go and then hopefully I’ll be in a position where I can’t be ignored.”
While Bracey is relishing the thought of pulling on England whites, he reserved sympathy for Foakes, who is facing three months on the sidelines. However, Foakes has given his replacementtipsonwhattoexpect this week.
“I am gutted for him,” Bracey said of Foakes. “I spoke to him and he is really helpful to me in terms of keeping and our different bowlers and how you can combat the challenges I might come up against. I know he is gutted but he has been brilliant with me.”