England to pick new wicketkeeper for West Indies Test series

England are set to bring in Jamie Smith as a wicketkeeper-batter for the three-match Test series against West Indies in July.

Smith has played two ODIs for England in 2023 against Ireland and will now play his first Test match beginning on July 10.

The 23-year-old wicketkeeper averages 50 in the ongoing season of County Championship while representing Surrey. He has a first-class career average of 40.22 as he has scored 4,178 runs in 57 first-class matches.

He played his first County Championship first-class match in 2019 against Marylebone Cricket Club. In the same game, he scored 127 runs off 192 balls and he kept wickets for Surrey as well.

Despite England having Foakes and Jonny Bairstow trading the gloves since Test captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum took over in 2022, Smith’s inclusion in the squad shows England’s approach to freshen up the Test squad in time for the next Ashes in 2025-2026.

It could also mean that 35-year-old Bairstow could be seeing his last days as a permanent member of England’s Test side. 

Earlier this year, Bairstow played the hundredth Test of his career, a huge milestone for the wicketkeeper-batter but his score of 39 in the second innings of the fifth Test was his highest score in the five-match Test series.

England are also on the lookout to replace James Anderson as he is set to hang his boots after the West Indies Test series. The veteran pacer had revealed his intentions earlier in May.

Anderson has 700 Test wickets to his name in 187 Tests making him the third bowler with the most Test wickets to his name and also the pacer with the most wickets in Test cricket. 

Meanwhile, West Indies have received a set-back in the form of veteran bowler Kemar Roach sustaining a knee injury while playing for Surrey in the County Championship. The West Indies have brought in Jeremiah Louis as Roachs' replacement for the Test series. 

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