Michael Vaughan has applauded Jamie Smith for scoring his maiden Test ton in the ongoing first Test between England and Sri Lanka. The
former captain also expects the wicketkeeper-batter to score more centuries in the Test format. Smith scored 111 runs off 148 deliveries as England posted 358 in their first innings as well. However, Sri Lanka ended Day 3 on 204/6, with a lead of 82 runs as well.
Reviewing the third day’s play on BBC Test Match Special, Vaughan said, “Good day for England, starting with Jamie Smith, he is a fine player. To get his debut Test hundred here, he got close against the West Indies at Edgbaston, but England have really picked a fantastic player. He will be delighted. He has got his first Test match century. It certainly isn’t going to be his last. I think the debate is going to be in the space of a few months or so is that is Jamie Smith batting too low. He is such a good player but England have got this powerhouse of a batting lineup. They want someone at seven who can damage if he is having to bat with the tail, and he has certainly got the skill set to do so.”
Jamie Smith came to bat when England were reduced to 125/4 at the fall of Joe Root’s wicket as well. He added together crucial partnerships with Harry Brook, Chris Woakes and Gus Atkinson before being the eighth player to be dismissed as well.
“Alright, the Sri Lankan and West Indian attack is not in the premier league of Test match attacks at the minute. Obviously some tours away from home will challenge him more. But first and foremost, I always look at balance – can you defend, can you survive and can you play the best ball a bowler can bowl in a real calm fashion? He can do that. He has got a beautiful forward defense. He uses his feet nicely and he has obviously got that game to go up in the gears and attack. He has got such power. His driving through the off-side is pure driving. Against spin, (Prabath) Jayasuriya bowled beautifully but it’s not the spin that you get in India and sometimes Sri Lanka or Bangladesh but it looks like he can play spin nicely,” Michael Vaughan concluded.
