Alec Stewart, England's batting great, heaped praise on Ben Foakes for his outstanding wicketkeeping abilities displayed in the ongoing five-match Test series against India. Stewart also drew comparisons between Ben Foakes' glove work and the renowned Indian wicketkeeper-batsman, MS Dhoni.
In the first two Tests of the red-ball series in India, Ben Foakes exhibited exceptional skills behind the stumps. The 30-year-old has recorded six dismissals and two stumpings, including two remarkable catches off Rehan Ahmed’s bowling in the Vishakhapatnam Test.
Alec Stewart emphasised Ben Foakes' unparalleled hand speed, ensuring a secure grip on the ball. He remarked that while MS Dhoni possessed quick hands, Foakes had the quickest in the game.
'MS Dhoni had quick hands but Foakes has the quickest hands'
“He does things that no one else can do. His hand speed is second to none. MS Dhoni had quick hands but Foakes has the quickest hands in the game and the ball stays in them,” Stewart told to The Times.
Ben Foakes was absent from England's home Ashes series last year, during which Jonny Bairstow took on the wicketkeeping duties. However, Harry Brook's withdrawal for personal reasons created an opportunity in the batting lineup, resulting in Foakes' inclusion in the playing XI for the series opener.
Alec Stewart praised Ben Foakes for his remarkable work ethic, highlighting his thorough approach to training and preparation.
"Ben Foakes possesses immense natural talent," remarked Alec Stewart, commending Foakes for his exemplary work ethic and meticulous approach to training and preparation.
“He’s got massive natural talent but his work ethic, and attention to detail, are as good as I’ve come across both when I played and since I’ve been in this role. He leaves no stone unturned. He works on specifics and the quality of the work is impressive,” Stewart added.
Nevertheless, the wicketkeeper has struggled to leave a mark with the bat in the current series. The right-handed batsman has managed to accumulate only 80 runs across four innings, resulting in a disappointing average of 20. His scores in the first two matches have been 4, 34, 6, and 36 runs respectively.
Aged 60, Stewart voiced contentment with Foakes' performance, crediting it to his intensive training regimen designed to thrive against spin bowling. Stewart emphasized Foakes' adeptness in negotiating different ball movements, especially on spin-friendly pitches.
“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,” Stewart further stated.
England kicked off the series with a 28-run win in the first Test held in Hyderabad. Nevertheless, the home team staged a comeback, securing a 106-run victory in the second match, thus leveling the red-ball series at 1-1. Both teams will be eager to secure a win in the upcoming match to gain an edge.
The third Test is set to be held at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot from February 15 to 19.
India's squad for last three Tests vs England
Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul*, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (WK), KS Bharat (WK), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja*, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
IND vs ENG: Harbhajan Singh reacts to Virat Kohli's prolonged absence due to 'personal reasons', says 'no one knows...'
Ravindra Jadeja, KL Rahul back in Test squad but in doubt to play Rajkot Test: Here's why
