Ben Foakes called up as cover for Jonny Bairstow

[essexfan548]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/45984456

"Surrey wicketkeeper Ben Foakes has been called up to England's Test squad on the tour of Sri Lanka as cover for the injured Jonny Bairstow.

Bairstow, 29, has ankle ligament damage sustained playing football in training and will miss Saturday's Twenty20 match with Sri Lanka.

It is not yet clear if he will return for the first of three Test matches, starting on 6 November.

Foakes, 25, is scheduled to arrive in Colombo this weekend."

[nat]

Foster is still a a better gloveman than Foakes... and I'd argue still a better batsman. Never have I seen a more overrated player than Foakes.

[Perov]

Foster whilst still a good keeper, peaked 2 or 3 years ago and is now in decline.
Foakes is still improving, and is now the best contracted gloveman in the country.
Given that Foakes has a better batting average than Foster in:
a) First Class
b) List A
c) T/20.

I think you are being a tad harsh on Foakes.

[Andy]

Foster is still a a better gloveman than Foakes... and I'd argue still a better batsman. Never have I seen a more overrated player than Foakes.

Not any more. Not for a couple of seasons at least.  However, Foster should've played much more for England in the past...whether Foakes is overrated, well we would swap him for AW wouldn't we?

[nat]

Foster is still a a better gloveman than Foakes... and I'd argue still a better batsman. Never have I seen a more overrated player than Foakes.

Not any more. Not for a couple of seasons at least.  However, Foster should've played much more for England in the past...whether Foakes is overrated, well we would swap him for AW wouldn't we?

Damned with faint praise.

[Andy]

Foster is still a a better gloveman than Foakes... and I'd argue still a better batsman. Never have I seen a more overrated player than Foakes.

Not any more. Not for a couple of seasons at least.  However, Foster should've played much more for England in the past...whether Foakes is overrated, well we would swap him for AW wouldn't we?

Damned with faint praise.

AW may not be keeping or scoring the runs that JF did in his pomp, but his keeping is OK. 

We were spoiled by having JF available so much - if he'd been away with Team England, his performances would've been not as good.  Just look at Cook's somewhat erratic run scoring especially when combining both 1-day and Test roles. 

We might have to wait a while before we have such a good keeper/batsman again.

 Indeed, JF was the best keeper/batsman in the club's history IMHO.  Admittedly. whilst having useful keepers, we haven't had the likes of Godfrey Evans, Jim Parks or Alan Knott, BUT I don't consider that damning with feint praise...

[Slogger]

Foster was the best Essex keeper I've seen since I started watching in 1972. The late Fred Root started watching in the late 1920s and told me Foster was the best he had seen.

[Andy]

Foster was the best Essex keeper I've seen since I started watching in 1972. The late Fred Root started watching in the late 1920s and told me Foster was the best he had seen.

I presume you're not referring to the ex-Test bowler who died in the 1950s??

[Slogger]

No Fred was a stalwart member from Braintree who lived into his 90s and died about ten years ago. He told me Gooch was the best Essex player he'd seen

[IlfordEagle]

Foster is the best W/k I've ever seen for Essex & I have watched us since 1968, Foakes has improved a lot especially in the last 2/3 years, his batting is also solid & consistent, he bats anywhere between 5 & 8 & is trusted (& good enough) to look after the tail, he also gets valuable 1 day runs & has acquired the knack of scoring them at a good rate, he has earned his call up.

[Andy]

No Fred was a stalwart member from Braintree who lived into his 90s and died about ten years ago. He told me Gooch was the best Essex player he'd seen

Indeed.

[bwildered]

Ben Foakes makes test debut for England.
Looks the goods, stated the commentary ! Well at least he made it to lunch !

[Andy]

Ben Foakes makes test debut for England.
Looks the goods, stated the commentary ! Well at least he made it to lunch !

Made it to dinner...or whatever you call the evening meal!  Good luck to him - if nothing else, it's a reminder that there's more talent out there than this clique of Bairstow/Buttler/Stokes etc.

[Oldhasbeen]

What a great day's Test cricket. I switched on at 99-4 and expected c180 all out, but great stuff by the second half of the batting, showing the top boys (esp. Mo & Stokes) how to do it.

Stokes - about the worst shot I've seen by a Test batsman all year
Mo - if he's a Test number 3, I'm a banana.

[afinetickletoleg]

Mo - if he's a Test number 3, I'm a banana.

Don't stay out in the sun too long - you might peel