Fast-starter Smith has all the skills to become key England cog

AMID the fanfare of James Anderson playing his final Test and Gus Atkinson’s miraculous 12-wicket debut, there was a quieter, but potentially just as significant, moment taking place: Jamie Smith had become an England player.

- Cameron Ponsonby

Just 24, the jobbing fan may not be too familiar with Smith —and for good reason. With just two England white-ball caps to his name and behind a number of high-profile players at Surrey, there has been little reason so far for Smith to break into the public consciousness.

But ask those in the know and you find that the hopes and expectations for the 6ft 2ins batter are sky-high. Earlier this year, his Surrey team-mate and former England opener Dom Sibley described him as “an absolute genius”, while Test skipper Ben Stokes said ahead of his debut last week that he “fits in perfectly with everything we want”.

“If you look at Jamie over the last couple of seasons, he’s been incredibly impressive,” Stokes said. “The weight of runs, but also the way in which he’s scored them. We’re very, very excited by what Jamie can offer us.”