Cricket / England
James Bracey set to make England debut
“Cap number 698”
A succinct announcement on England’s social media channels was the confirmation that Bristol-born James Bracey will make his Test debut against New Zealand on Wednesday at Lord’s.
The wicketkeeper-batsman is likely to bat at number seven for England, lower down the order than his usual three for Gloucestershire where he is averaging 47.90 this season.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CPlBk8cLcEJ/
Bracey’s call-up to the Test team is deserved but still unexpected, and comes after Ben Foakes slipped in Surrey’s dressing room and pulled a hamstring.
The 24-year-old, who grew up playing for Winterbourne CC, told the Guardian in a recent interview that he is “in a really good place with my batting” and hopes to one day be batting in the top-three for England.
He said: “I’ve had a lot of times this winter when I’ve been trying to calculate how I’m getting in the team, but the fact of the matter is sometimes it happens when you don’t expect it. That time hopefully has now come.
“I’ve benefited from Foakesy having a freak accident and I think if I put in good performances over the next couple of games, that could see me bed into the squad moving forward.
“This week if I get out there it’s not only an opportunity to push myself with the gloves but really show what I can do with the bat and that I can do different roles.”
Main photo: Martin Booth
Read more: My Bristol Favourites: James Bracey
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