S Poddar
Surrey wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith shows ample confidence in his mate Ollie Pope stepping into the gigantic shoes left vacant by the injured Ben Stokes. With the captain of England Tests out of contention for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka, much of the limelight falls squarely on Pope, whom Smith thinks is ‘the man for the job.’.
Mellow-mannered Pope boasts of a sharp cricketing brain and has been groomed for leadership duties. An erstwhile vice-captain to Stokes, he is no stranger to the pressures of captaincy either. Teammate Smith played under Pope at Surrey and speaks excitedly about the ability of the soon-to-be 25-year-old to keep the team composed under pressure. “Ollie brings a real calmness to the side,” Smith said. “He’s always thinking ahead, always looking for an edge, and he won’t let things stagnate. That is precisely what you want in Test cricket.”
As the captaincy credentials of Pope are being tested in the crucible of international cricket, so Smith’s role will have to evolve. For surely, after his excellent displays as a young batter in his Test debut against West Indies, he will move up the order to allow for the loss of Stokes’ bowling abilities. England is also likely to consider either Olly Stone or Matthew Potts as a fourth seamer, meaning there might need to be a reshuffle of the batting order.
However, Smith does not get fazed with the prospect of batting higher up the order. His adaptability has been a hallmark of his career so far, and he’s confident of making a seamless transition. “I’ve batted in different positions throughout my career,” he explained. “The difference between batting at six and seven isn’t massive, and I’m ready for whatever comes my way.”
Added to the immediate challenges that Smith has had to face in the ongoing Sri Lanka series is balancing his growing family life with the rigors of an international cricketer. The young cricketer is due to become a father for the first time in December, a period which well clashes with England’s tour of New Zealand. While all that forms a part of the future, Smith is concerned about the present and, literally, living every moment.
But such is the ambition of this Surrey batter. He wants to be a three-format player for England, and he’s done enough in limited-overs cricket to catch the eye of the selectors. With the T20 World Cup on the horizon, Smith is keen to press his case for inclusion in the white-ball setup.
As England embark on a new chapter, without their inspirational captain, all eyes are naturally on Ollie Pope. With a supporting cast that includes the impressive talent of Jamie Smith, the scene is set for an exciting summer of Test cricket.
