Phil Salt to make Test debut after IPL heroics? Michael Vaughan drops colossal prediction

Format England cricketer Michael Vaughan wants Kolkata Knight Riders batter Phil Salt to make his Test debut for England. He believes that his bazballer's style of play could help the Three Lions in the longest format of the game.

England cricket team will be looking forward to the summer. The Three Lions will be having some of the crucial games coming in all three formats of the game. On the Test front, they would be looking to continue their aggressive approach and also would want to provide opportunities to young players.

Premier pacer James Anderson will be retiring this summer and one of the major concerns will be to find his replacement. Ollie Robinson along with other pacers are there but to have the quality of him will be hard to find.

On the other hand, another concerning thing for them will be to look out for a wicket-keeping option. Jonny Bairstow has looked torrid with the bat and it won’t be a surprise if he gets dropped from the team this summer.

Michael Vaughan talked about young Durham keeper-batter Ollie Robinson, highlighting his success in county cricket. While speaking on the club Praire Fire podcast stated:

"Ollie Robinson got 170 not out odd for Durham... Wicket-keeper batter, he came from Kent. Sam Billings was actually playing for Kent. He was a young chap, wanted to go and played first team cricket. Durham nick him. Do not be surprised..Not the Ollie Robinson who bowls.

“Ollie Robinson on Sunday bowled Sussex to victory against Yorkshire with a four-fer and he is a remarkable human being because on Monday...I think on Monday or Tuesday Ollie Robinson got a 170 odd for Durham. But he's the different Ollie Robinson. It is just a common name.”

Phil Salt wicket-keeper batter at No.7, Bazballer - Michael Vaughan on England’s wicket-keeper option in Tests

Michael Vaughan further was confident that Ollie Robinson will be the wicket-keeper batter this summer. He also feels that Phil Salt could be a great option for the team as well in the Tests. He added:

“Anyway, I would not surprised at all if Ollie Robinson is England's wicket-keeper batter this summer. Do not be surprised if he gets thrown in there. He is a quality player. This lad Ollie Robinson. He went with the Lions in the winter. He is on the radar. 1 would not be surprised if they go for him.

And also Phil Salt. Phil Salt wicket-keeper batter at No.7, Bazballer - you could see going either towards Phil Salt, Jonny Bairstow or someone new in Ollie Robinson. I don't think Ben Foakes is a shoo-in.”

Phil Salt has been in exceptional form this year in the white-ball cricket. In the IPL 2024, he scored 439 runs for Kolkata Knight Riders at an average of 39.55 and a strike rate of 182. In the ODIs for England, he has 619 runs in 19 matches with an average of 36.41. While he has 639 runs at an average of 35.50 in 21 T20Is.