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Jamie Smith is currently in the crease against the Pakistan National Cricket Team, but the England National Cricket Team has yet to decide whether Smith will continue wicketkeeping in the match.
Multiple media reports have suggested that the keeper-batter has an injury to his finger, which might not have affected his batting but has affected him and the England team management in his wicket-keeping job. Because of the injury, he could miss the keeping gloves when Pakistan starts their second innings.
Jordan Cox could be England's keeper in place of Jamie Smith
However, England has a back-up option in the form of Jordan Cox. If Jamie Smith's injury looks serious, then the team management could ask Cox to take over the glovework in the second innings of the ongoing Test match at the Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham.
According to a Cricbuzz report, shared on the social media platform 'X' on September 10, James Smith injured his right thumb while keeping on Day 1 of the match. The injured area was spotted with heavy strapping.
On the other side, Jordan Cox, the back-up keeper of the England cricket team, was spotted practising with the gloves.
"Jamie Smith injured his right thumb while keeping yesterday and has heavy strapping. He's at the crease, having been cleared to bat,t but a decision on whether he will keep in the second innings will be taken later," according to the 'X' post.
"Jordan Cox was seen practising his keeping in the dressing room yesterday, so England do have an option," the post further reads.
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The same has been reported by England's Barmy Army. They have stated that Smith’s finger is in a splint this morning after an injury picked up on day one, and therefore, it’s yet to be confirmed if he’ll be able to keep.
Jamie Smith is batting nicely for England
As of now, Jamie Smith is doing well with the bat. He needs only three runs to complete a half-century in the Test format against Pakistan.
After Emilio Gay, Harry Brook, and Dan Lawrence, Smith is likely to secure a half-century in the first innings of the match for the England cricket team. At lunch, the home team was on 299 runs on the scoreboard, losing 6 wickets. Gus Atkinson remains not out on the crease alongside Smith.
Pakistan could loose the series by 0-3 to England
As Pakistan scored only 133 runs in their first innings, the home team is currently leading the match by 166 runs. With Smith in the middle, the England cricket team will try to extend the lead as much as possible.
However, they have nothing to lose from this match, as it turned into a dead rubber as soon as they claimed the second match at Lord's after winning the Leeds Test match. England is already leading the three-match Test series by 2-0 with a bright opportunity to whitewash the Men in Green by winning the ongoing match.
It will be a massive setback for the Pakistan cricket team if they lose the series by 0-3; that will mark a fresh low in their cricket history.
