Foakes accepts back up status
BEN Foakes claims he is finally “at peace” with his role as Jos Buttler’s back-up in the England setup as he prepares to embrace his second shot at Test cricket.
The Surrey wicketkeeper had a stunning introduction to the international arena, summoned to Sri Lanka in 2018 as cover for the injured Jonny Bairstow and leaving the island with a debut century and a player-of-the-series trophy under his belt.
It seemed safe to assume that he was at the start of a long and successful spell as England’s gloveman but he played just twice more before being dropped.
Bairstow initially resumed his duties behind the stumps but the job has since reverted to Buttler, leaving Foakes on the outside looking in for the past two years.
Buttler is to be rested after next week’s first Test against India, leaving three high-profile games against world-class opponents to play for and Foakes is approaching his eagerly-awaited chance with admirable equanimity.
“Obviously, the way I started in Sri Lanka, I did expect to play for longer. I did expect to get more of a run at that stage,” said the man who is widely rated as the county game’s gold standard for wicketkeeping.
“But I think in the current setup of the England side there is so much competition and you’ve got a few guys established in the team who are world-class cricketers.
“You do have to accept you’re not going to get a long run necessarily, unless you nail it every game.”
While cherishing any time he gets in an England shirt, part of Foakes’ new approach is to dial down his expectations. While there has previously been a vocal element of support for his installation as first-choice wicketkeeper, Buttler’s form with bat and gloves over the past nine months has cooled the debate.
In the recent Tests against Sri Lanka he scored vital runs and turned in arguably his best series behind the stumps. The shirt, as far as Foakes can tell, is simply not up for grabs.
“Probably not, is the way I’m looking at it. I think it will very much be a case of Jos is number one,” he said.
“Jos has been amazing, he’s a world-class player so there’s no surprise there. I’m just seeing these three games as a chance to try and stake my claim, do as well as possible and enjoy playing for England.
“After getting dropped last time you don’t really know if you’re gonna play again or get another chance to wear the shirt so I think I am approaching it more as I’ve got a potential chance to play more Tests for England and see where it goes and see what happens.”