Of the three newest faces that have been backed to fill key roles this summer – Gus Atkinson with the new ball, Shoaib Bashir as sole spinner and Jamie Smith behind the stumps – each have had their moment to shine.
Atkinson took 11 wickets on debut against West Indies at Lord’s and Bashir spun out the same opposition at Trent Bridge.
Clearly, they have huge promise as international cricketers, but there is an inescapable feeling Smith is the man to be most excited about.
He has ended the Bairstow-Ben Foakes wicketkeeping debate and has the potential to be England’s gloveman for the next decade. Although his keeping has been smart – bar a missed stumping and being no-balled for breaking the line with his gloves – it is Smith’s batting that lends the belief England have unearthed a gem.
At 24 and in only his fourth Test, Smith notched his maiden century from a difficult position in the first innings, then took the tension out of a tricky run-chase with a breezy 39 in the second.
His stance is slightly awkward, yet everything that happens after the bowler releases the ball has the grace of Darcey Bussell. Solid defence, sweet drives and fast-handed pull shots.
Smith is remarkably even-tempered for such a young and inexperienced cricketer. His celebration on reaching three figures at Old Trafford was little more than a wave of the bat to the Party Stand. Last year, on the same ground, Bairstow made 99 not out and was practically climbing into the press box for a rumble.
