Jamie Smith can be a “world-class participant over a protracted time period”, based on former England worldwide and Sri Lanka batting coach Ian Bell.
Smith, 24, made his maiden Take a look at century on the third day of England’s collection opener in opposition to the Sri Lankans at Emirates Outdated Trafford.
Bell, who performed 118 Checks, has labored with Smith for England Lions and Hundred facet Birmingham Phoenix.
“The small half that I performed in his improvement, I’ve watched a man who’s labored extraordinarily laborious,” mentioned Bell.
“I am certain he’ll be an enormous a part of this England workforce in all codecs over a very long time.”
Surrey’s Smith was given the gloves by England forward of county team-mate Ben Foakes and Yorkshire’s Jonny Bairstow for the collection in opposition to West Indies earlier this summer season.
He missed out on a maiden century within the third Take a look at in opposition to the Windies, making 95 at Edgbaston, however made no mistake with 111 in Manchester on Friday.
Total, he’s solely the third England participant to have three scores in extra of 70 of their first 5 Take a look at innings and his 318 runs after 5 knocks is the second-most of any wicketkeeper in Take a look at historical past.
And 42-year-old Bell, whose 7,727 runs put him ninth on England’s all-time record in Checks, mentioned he was “under no circumstances” shocked by the beginning Smith had made on the highest degree of the sport.
“He’ll be a world-class participant for England over a protracted time period,” mentioned the previous Warwickshire batter. “He is assured, and he is taken to worldwide cricket with ease.”
