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Keaton Jennings eager to repay England's faith and Alastair Cook's support at Old Trafford
Keaton Jennings knows he is playing for his place in the England side in the fourth Test and if he can emerge from his run of poor scores it will back up the management’s opinion that he has the mental strength to succeed.
Jennings scrapped his way to 48 before being bounced out in the second innings by Kagiso Rabada at the Oval. He would probably have been given one more game even if he had failed again, but the runs he scored at the Oval at least give him something to build on at Old Trafford, although his dismissal was worrying, with faster, bouncier pitches awaiting this winter.
England were able to bat outside at Old Trafford on Wednesday afternoon once the heavy rain had moved on and Jennings spent time working with Alastair Cook, who has been a rock of support during his lean run.
“I have had a couple of good chats with the guys over the last couple of days and, regardless of what happens, I have learned a whole heap about myself and the whole stage of Test cricket,” Jennings said. “Cooky has been awesome with me. He has added a lot of value to me. Hopefully, we can get stuck in and build a stand.”
With Vernon Philander confirming he is over the sickness that prevented him bowling at full pace against Jennings in that second innings, the task is not going to become any easier for the young opener. Old Trafford is likely to seam and swing with overcast conditions expected and a damp pitch due to the recent wet weather.
Philander will again examine his technique and probe away at the channel outside off stump that has caused Jennings so many problems.
Jennings at least has his destiny in his own hands. Runs at Old Trafford will mean he starts the series against West Indies, when, in theory, there could be easier times. But if he fails, then the round of County Championship matches starting on Sunday, the only ones before the West Indies series, will be crucial for rivals Mark Stoneman and Haseeb Hameed.
England left India six months ago confident they had found two new top-order players after Jennings’s hundred on debut and the progress of Hameed. But Hameed has lost his place after failing to reach fifty in 12 championship innings for Lancashire and has been redundant while the NatWest Blast has dominated the schedule in recent weeks.
He made a hundred for Lancashire Seconds against MCC Young Cricketers which is a start, and perhaps the time working on his game in club cricket for Formby and away from the scrutiny of the championship may have been just what he needed. If he can make a score for Lancashire against Hampshire, and Jennings fails, then do not be surprised to see Hameed opening with Cook for the inaugural day-night Test in England at Edgbaston in two weeks’ time.
“It’s been quite a difficult season for me so far. But I’ve had these three to four weeks away from first-team cricket, and I’m quite keen to put the first half of the season to one side now,” said Hameed. “It’s a season of two halves. What’s happened has happened, and it’s important to look forward now.”
Heat lamps were being used to dry out a section of the outfield underneath the dressing-room area at Old Trafford, but the pitch is fine and was protected from the crowds that attended two big pop concerts here last month.
The groundsman removed the covers from the pitch as soon as rain stopped in order for it to dry out under the sun, suggesting he was worried it would start damp, leaving England more likely to stick with the XI from the Oval and again leave out spinner Liam Dawson. Dawid Malan deserves another chance and, at 2-1 up in the series, the extra batsman will be useful if Philander starts swinging and seaming the ball.