Image Credit- Surrey
Jamie Smith, an England rookie, will take over as wicketkeeper for the first two Test matches against the West Indies. In an attempt to revamp their Test lineup, Jack Leach, Mark Wood, and Ollie Robinson were left off of the 14-man roster, along with both of the former occupants behind the wickets, Ben Foakes and Jonny Bairstow.
There will be a shift in seam attack leadership for the West Indies series since the first Test, which begins on July 10 at Lord’s, is the final one before James Anderson retires. Like Smith, Dillon Pennington has earned his first call-up and will probably face off against Gus Atkinson for the opportunity to play in a Test. Matthew Potts has also been included; he last played against Ireland more than a year ago.
Despite Somerset allowing him to go out on loan and selecting Leach, Shoaib Bashir was chosen as the team’s choice spin bowler. Dan Lawrence was the backup hitter following an outstanding season debut for Surrey.
What mattered most, though, was Smith’s appointment as Test keeper. Although Foakes remains the preferred option behind the stumps, Smith’s selection was a change of pace for England, who have spent the most of the previous ten years switching between Foakes, Bairstow, and Jos Buttler as a specialist hitter at Surrey.
On the third day of the Lord’s Test, Smith, who turns 24 on the same day, is the highest run scorer for Surrey in the Blast and is averaging 50.70 in the County Championship this year. He also maintains wicket. He made an impression with the England Lions and earned his first senior cap with the ODI squad late in the summer during the Ireland series.
Ollie Robinson of Durham, who earlier in the week scored a career-high 198 against Essex, and Phil Salt, the opening England T20I batsman, were also in the running to win the gloves.
Notable also is the absence of the other Ollie Robinson, who Sussex acknowledged at the start of the season that he had a point to prove. Before Anderson and Stuart Broad left, Robinson was seen to be the seam bowler most likely to step up, but he struggled with fitness on the India tour earlier this year and has been playing in the Championship in a modest manner.
“The first Test of the summer is always a special moment, but it will be extra poignant with it being Jimmy’s last Test before he retires,” England men’s managing director, Rob Key, said. “He has given everything to the sport since his Test debut in 2003. We all would like to wish him well as he walks out at Lord’s for the last time for England.
“We are looking forward to getting the season underway against a strong West Indies side in what will be an excellent Test series.”