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[Saba Sports News] MS Dhoni has long been the gold standard in wicketkeeping across cricket formats, renowned for his prowess behind the stumps and strategic use of DRS reviews. Few wicketkeepers have approached, much less surpassed, the former Indian captain’s skill set. Yet, England’s wicketkeeping legend Alec Stewart has boldly stated that Ben Foakes possesses even quicker hands than Dhoni.
This comment was inspired by Foakes’ standout performance during the second Test against India in Visakhapatnam, where he took two critical catches off leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed’s bowling. Throughout the India tour, Foakes secured six catches and executed two stumpings, showcasing his exceptional skills behind the wickets.
Stewart praised Foakes in an interview with The Times, emphasizing his unparalleled hand speed and efficiency in retaining the ball. “MS Dhoni had quick hands, but Foakes has the quickest hands in the game, and the ball stays in them,” Stewart remarked, highlighting Foakes’ unique capabilities.
Stewart also detailed the adjustments Foakes made to his training regimen to excel in the demanding conditions of Indian pitches, focusing heavily on techniques to counteract spin bowling. This included specialized training with the Merlin spin machine and customized mats to simulate the unpredictable bounce and turn of the ball on Indian surfaces.
“He knew there would be a lot of spin bowling so it (his training) was 80-20 in favour of his standing-up stuff, which he’s brilliant at anyway — the ball bouncing, the ball turning, the ball keeping low. That’s why I was so pleased for him, after all the hours he’s put in, and then he gets rewarded with some of the catches he took.” “We’d discuss the position of his feet, the height he gets, where his hands are. He leads it. We used the Merlin spin machine, mats that spin or one with holes cut in them, so that some spin and some bounce. We do it from 22 yards, or from ten or 11 yards. He knows what he wants to work on and we’ve done that since he joined us in 2014 from Essex.”
Since joining the England setup from Essex in 2014, Foakes has worked diligently on his craft, with Stewart noting his proactive approach to training and his potential as a test cricketer hindered only by the need to maintain team balance.
“I said a while ago he’s the best in the world and, but for circumstances, he could be coming up to playing 50 or 60 Tests, but I get the need to balance the side and that’s why he’s not played (more). People should not underestimate his batting,” he added.
Foakes’ contributions were not limited to his wicketkeeping; he also made significant runs in the ongoing five-Test series against India. He played a pivotal role in a match-winning partnership with Ollie Pope in Hyderabad and showed resilience with the bat in Visakhapatnam, despite the team’s overall defeat. Stewart’s accolades for Foakes underscore a growing recognition of his talent and hard work, positioning him as a world-class wicketkeeper and a valuable team player.