Jamie Smith is handed chance to be England's answer to Adam Gilchrist as he is urged to 'bang it' by new captain Harry Brook
Jamie Smith has been given the chance to become England's answer to Adam Gilchrist after being promoted to open the batting at the start of the new white-ball era under Harry Brook.
Thursday's first one-day international against West Indies at Edgbaston represents the latest white-ball reset, with Brook — stand-in captain against Australia last September — embarking on the role full-time following the resignation of Jos Buttler.
And one of his first acts has been to make Smith central to transforming the fortunes of a side who have contrived to lose nine of their last 10 ODIs, and 19 out of 26 since the start of the 2023 World Cup in India.
Backed to the hilt by head coach Brendon McCullum, the big-hitting Smith has already made the successful transition into a Test wicketkeeper.
Now he been tasked with getting England's one-day innings off to a flyer, just as Gilchrist — another wicketkeeper-turned-opener — once did to such devastating effect for Australia.
McCullum came up with idea during the recent Champions Trophy in Pakistan — despite Smith's struggles in an experimental move to No 3, which brought him only 24 runs in three innings.
And while England will return the gloves to Buttler, the faith in Smith is a move right out of the Bazball playbook.
'Me and Baz just have this desire that Smudge [Smith] could be an unbelievable white-ball opener,' said Brook.
'I'm not saying he's cemented his spot, but he's going to get a good crack at it. He's such an immense player. He can play the moving ball, as we've seen in in Test cricket, and there's no reason why you can't go out there and bang it as an opener.'
With Jacob Bethell, who controversially missed last week's Test win over Zimbabwe so he could extend his stay at the IPL, returning to international cricket, and Will Jacks ensuring a deep batting line-up at No 7, Brook is determined to throw everything at a West Indies side who inhabit a similarly lowly slot in the rankings.
England begin the three-match series eighth in the ICC table, with West Indies in ninth. Should either side drop any lower, it could imperil automatic qualification for the 2027 World Cup in southern Africa — an unthinkable humiliation.
For the moment, though, Brook simply needs to get England — world champions until less than two years ago — winning again, even in a year when much of McCullum's focus will be on two seismic Test series against India and Australia.
'New era now, new leadership,' said Brook.
'Hopefully we can bring a lot of energy, competitiveness and fun out there.'
England will again turn to legspinner Adil Rashid to provide breakthroughs in the middle overs
His clarion call came on the day the ECB confirmed they were establishing a new entity — GB Cricket — with a view to qualifying for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
'It would be pretty cool to get an Olympic gold medal,' said Brook.
Right now, escaping the lower reaches of the rankings will be enough to keep everyone happy.
England: 1 Jamie Smith, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Joe Root, 4 Harry Brook (capt), 5 Jos Buttler (wkt), 6 Jacob Bethell, 7 Will Jacks, 8 Jamie Overton, 9 Brydon Carse, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Saqib Mahmood.
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