Will Jacks called up to England replacement squad – Surrey head coach backs him to impress

BY MARCUS HOOK

Surrey head coach Vikram Solanki is confident Will Jacks will give a good account of himself, after the 22-year-old was one of nine uncapped players called up at the eleventh hour to England’s replacement squad of 18 for the white-ball series against Pakistan, which gets underway at Cardiff tomorrow.

The series was thrown into chaos on Tuesday when it was revealed that seven members of the original squad and backroom staff had tested positive for Covid-19.

It led to the England and Wales Cricket Board standing the entire party down and naming a completely fresh line-up, including new management; although it will be overseen by Chris Silverwood, as the England head coach used the recent series against Sri Lanka to take a break.

Solanki said of Jacks’ call-up: “We’re obviously very pleased for Will. He’s played extremely well in the Vitality Blast. He’s taken on some responsibility with Jason Roy not being around.

“We’ve grown accustomed to seeing some eye-catching innings from Will. But what’s been really impressive is the responsibility he’s taken on board at the top of the order.

“He’s a fine cricketer. He’s obviously a very exciting cricketer – he can also bowl and he’s great in the field. We wish him well.”

Jacks – who was ranked the best player in the country in last year’s Vitality Blast and has continued to impress with bat and ball this summer – was one of 11 players to be pulled out of the current round of LV County Championship matches due to the changes.

Jacks had been not out overnight midway through the four-day clash with Hampshire at Southampton, which Surrey now look odds-on to lose after being bowled out for just 72 in response to Hampshire’s 488.

Going into the final day, the visitors are already 6-2 following on.

Solanki said: “We’re certainly coming second in this game and there’s no real excuse for it. It was a pretty ill-disciplined batting performance.

“We’re equipped to deal with lateral movement, or at least we should be. We just haven’t given a very good account for ourselves with the bat, and we’ve got some work to do in the second innings.”

PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD