James Bracey on his verge of making Test debut, It happens when you don’t expect it

I have worked really hard on my keeping ever since coming into the Lions and I feel like it is in a good place, says James Bracey

The 24-year-old James Bracey is most likely to make his Test debut for England at the Lord’s Cricket Ground in the upcoming series against the Kiwis. The young wicket-keeper increased his possibilities when he put up some impressive performance for the England Lions in their 2019-20 tour of Australia.

With Ben Foakes getting ruled out of the Test because of a severe injury. Moreover, Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow who are outcasted because of their post-IPL quarantine give Bracey a fair chance to put on the gloves for the English men.

“I was really excited when I got the call about being in the 15. It’s a bit different to how I have been around the group in the last year or so. I think that step up into the main squad is a big landmark. I have been taken on in each group – originally in the 55 and then it kept being cut down and now I feel like I am really close. I am really keen to get going” said Bracey.

Bracey stated that he was shocked when he heard about Foakes, he admitted it as something that he really never had on his radar to be there as a keeper. However, the young lad’s spot is yet to be confirmed but he is certainly the prime option for the man behind the stumps. Bracey is however aware of the fact that Buttler, Bairstow and Foakes will be back later in summer and he might not hold that position then but he also believes that he will put his best foot forward which will definitely benefit him in the future ahead.

James Bracey set for Test debut after freak Ben Foakes accident. Credits: NationalWorld
“With Jos and Jonny and Ben coming back later in the summer, it might not be mine to keep but as long as I show myself as a good keeper, it is definitely going to help me out going forward. I’ve had a lot of times this winter when I’ve been trying to calculate how I’m getting in the team and how I’m going to get that opportunity. But the fact of the matter is a lot of the time it happens when you don’t expect it. That time hopefully has now come.” Bracey added.

The wicketkeeper batter has credited Foakes for his massive improvement in his game throughout the winter. Lord’s is an infamous difficult condition to play but Bracey has an upper hand as he has done so in a County Championship last month.

“I have worked really hard on my keeping ever since coming into the Lions and I feel like it is in a good place. I have worked hard with the other keepers on tour and the keeping coaches, I did a long catch yesterday and go again today and I feel I am in a really confident place with that and that I can perform with the gloves and the bat.” said the wicketkeeper batter.

Bracey has been a No.3 batter but he is comfortable batting down the order for the team making him explore himself. If he succeeds to show up a good fighting performance, the young gun might stand a chance to take his place in the England squad for the winter elephant event ‘the Ashes’.

“It’s hard not to think about it but I’m trying to stay present, there are seven Test matches this summer and a lot can happen. I’m really excited about the possibility of playing two of the world’s best teams this summer and obviously an Ashes tour next winter is another goal as well. We’ll see how these first few games go and then hopefully I’ll be in a position where I can’t be ignored.” Bracey concluded.

 

 

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