Ben Foakes is set to regain the wicketkeeping gloves from Jonny Bairstow when England’s Test series in India begins on Thursday.
During England’s net session in Hyderabad on Monday, Foakes kept the wicket, with Bairstow at first slip. It was the clearest indication yet that both will play alongside each other in India after Harry Brook returned home for personal reasons, paving the way for England to select both goalkeepers in the same squad.
If Foakes is recalled as wicketkeeper, Bairstow is now expected to be deployed as a specialist batsman in the middle order, potentially returning to number 5.
Foakes, regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, was controversially dropped for last summer’s Ashes series as Telegraph Sports revealed for the first time. After scoring six Test centuries as a specialist batsman in 2022, Bairstow was given the gloves back when he returned from a broken leg.
The debate over who should stay for England continued. Bairstow enjoyed a good Ashes series with the bat, averaging 40.3 and hitting 99* at Old Trafford, but missed a series of crucial chances behind the stumps, especially early in the series, early in his return. Last season Foakes helped Surrey retain the County Championship, averaging 39.8 in another fine campaign.
Bob Taylor, one of England’s greatest ever goalkeepers, told it Telegraph Sports last week that Foakes should remain in India. “I’d go to India with Ben, where you’re in heat and humidity all day,” Taylor said.
Goalkeeping is considered particularly important in India due to the difficulty of coming up against spinners when turning wickets. Despite being left out for the Ashes, Foakes was recalled to the squad for the tour of India, ahead of younger alternatives such as Durham’s Ollie Robinson and fellow Surrey keeper Jamie Smith.
Foakes was already strongly considering a place in the England XI before the news about Brook broke. With Foakes recalled, England would have effectively been faced with a choice between picking two of Bairstow, Brook and vice-captain Ollie Pope as a specialist batsman. But Brook’s absence has simplified England’s middle-order dilemma.
When the India squad was unveiled last month, Rob Key, the England director, said no decision had been made on who would keep the wicket. Key said the decision would depend on “the balance of the party, all kinds of things, all kinds of contributing factors. It’s clearly a different place to hold than in England.”
Although his batting history is less impressive than Bairstow’s, Foakes has a solid record with the bat in Test cricket, averaging 32.2 in 20 matches. Foakes is an experienced spin player and scored a century on his Test debut in Sri Lanka in 2018, although he averaged just 15.6 in three Tests in India in 2021. His Test strike rate, 49, is slower than England’s approach under Ben Stokes. and Brendon McCullum. “I’m not, as you say, Bazball,” Foakes said last year.
Ahead of the opening Test, McCullum stated that “our thoughts are with Harry and his family” following his departure for personal reasons. The England Test coach also confirmed that Brook could still return to the side to play a part in the five-Test series later. “If he says he might be ready, if that conversation starts, cool. If that doesn’t happen, that’s okay too.”
McCullum also defended the team’s decision to train in Abu Dhabi instead of holding warm-up matches in India.
“I actually kind of got over it with my golf swing, so I hit it from left to right,” McCullum joked.
“It was a great week. Obviously it’s no secret that as a team we also try to enjoy ourselves, and those things outside of cricket are obviously super important for this team. Many of our messages are consistent, not just around the cricket field, but also around everyday life, and that includes enjoyment.
“The preparation was brilliant. Abu Dhabi Cricket have done a fantastic job, their facilities are as good as anywhere in the world. They give us a free hand to create the kind of pitches and formations we need, and guys, we left Abu Dhabi with enormous confidence that we had prepared as best as we could.”
Indian superstar Virat Kohli has withdrawn from the first two Tests citing personal reasons. Kohli averages 60.1 at home in Test cricket, hitting 235 against England in Mumbai in 2016. KL Rahul is expected to bat at number four and give up the gloves, with keeper KS Bharat likely to come in.
McCullum is confident that captain Ben Stokes, who batted in the nest in Hyderabad, will play as a specialist batsman.
“He looks like a greyhound. He’s stripping. He has worked hard for it and everyone knows that his ethics are phenomenal. I’ve seen him running around and I think he’s good to go. Of course we will call as late as necessary.”
England’s preparations suffered a blow when Shoaib Bashir, the 20-year-old uncapped off-spinner, was unable to fly to India due to a visa delay. Bashir was born in Surrey and holds a British passport. The delay is believed to be due to him being of Pakistani descent, and follows visa delays for a string of players with a Pakistani background in recent years.
“Everyone is doing what they can,” McCullum said. It’s a process we have to go through. We’re pretty sure we’re close.
“Bash’s time with the team in Abu Dhabi, where he fitted in seamlessly, will be of great benefit to him. We also have a little support for him, so he’s not alone. We hope the news gets through today [Monday] that his visa has been approved, then we will ensure that he sinks his teeth into this series.”