"Shades of Adam Gilchrist" - David Lloyd praises England youngster Jamie Smith
Former England cricketer David Lloyd has showered praise on young wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith, comparing him to legends Kevin Pietersen and Adam Gilchrist. This came after Smith's 95 (109) against the West Indies in the third Test at Edgbaston.
After the visitors scored 282 in the first innings, Smith smashed the West Indian attack for 12 fours and a six (which went out of the ground) in a rollicking knock in just his third Test. Although the 24-year-old was bowled five runs short of his century against a ball that kept low, his aggression and the power behind his shots on the leg side became the talk of the town in English cricketing circles.
"I’ve heard a lot about Jamie Smith from some very knowledgeable people, but this weekend was the first time seeing him in the flesh," David Lloyd wrote in his column for the Daily Mail. "Wow, and double wow. I haven’t been on the edge of my seat like that since the days of Kevin Pietersen. Smith is going to be around a very long time. He’s going to take games away from the opposition. Shades of Adam Gilchrist."
Like a lot of teams recently, England have been open to moving towards young, aggressive Test wicketkeepers who can hit the ball long and hard. They had the experienced Jonny Bairstow in a similar role but his poor form led to his snub and Surrey-born Jamie Smith's arrival.
England won the three-match Test series 3-0.
Mark Wood looks on course for the Ashes: David Lloyd
David Lloyd also weighed in on pacer Mark Wood's pace and consistency after he picked up nine wickets in two Tests, including a five-wicket haul at Edgbaston.
"Mark Wood is approaching the age of 35, but he’s still banging his deliveries out at 90-plus miles per hour," Lloyd wrote. "Pace is a potent force. Is he on course for the Ashes? Well, he looks like he is to me."
"That’s back-to-back Tests with no let-up in his speed, and so he’s not doing his case any harm. Fast bowlers clean up tails as he did perfectly yesterday. You just can’t beat the menace of a genuinely fast because it disturbs the minds of opponents," he added.
The highly-anticipated Ashes is expected to begin in December 2025.