ENG vs NZ: England Test Captain Ben Stokes Believes Ben Foakes Is The "Finest Wicketkeeper" In The World

Ben Foakes has been termed the “finest wicketkeeper in the world” by New England Test skipper Ben Stokes.

The 29-year-old wicketkeeper took some fine catches and then batted calmly to assist the hosts to a five-wicket victory over Kane Williamson’s New Zealand in the first Test at Lord’s.

England had lost five wickets on Day 3 but were still really very a few runs away from a victory, so Foakes’ continued existence at the crease was critical in the opening session of Day 4 of the Test. With New Zealand also believing they can win, the wicketkeeper-batter joined a very well Joe Root (115 not out) to help England step over the line with an undefeated 32.

The England Test captain hoped Foakes would improve with time. “He’ll only get superior with more self-belief, and it’s wonderful to have him behind the stumps,” Ben Stokes added.

‘Ben Foakes is the finest wicketkeeper in the world’: Ben Stokes

Ben Stokes supported Foakes before the second Test, which begins on June 10 in Nottingham, saying, “We are not in a role to pick world-class players at this time. Ben (Foakes) is the world’s finest wicketkeeper.”

“Which is not just my view; it is the opinion of many people. Batting at seven, as he does for England, differs from his role for Surrey but since he bats upward,” Mirror.co.uk quoted Stokes as saying.

“But going in last night for 45 minutes was a huge part of the game for him, and he managed it brilliantly. The way he kept — he ended up taking some catches that looked very effortless but weren’t.”

“Having a wicketkeeper like Ben (Foakes) behind stumps helps give us a lot more confidence, and it provides the bowlers a lot of faith, recognizing that nine times out of ten, he’s wanting to put everything which comes to him,” Ben Stokes said.

Jos Buttler’s unmemorable Ashes series facilitated Foakes’ return to the Test side. Following England’s 0-4 thrashing in Australia, Buttler was dropped from the three-Test Caribbean tour, and Foakes returned, partnering Root in the Lord’s Test, where the duo constructed together with an unbeaten 120-run partnership.

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