'Foakes has helped me with England debut' - Smith

Jamie Smith says Ben Foakes has helped him pinch his Test debut contempt replacing his Surrey team-mate arsenic England's wicketkeeper.

Foakes, arguably nan champion keeper successful nan world, is Surrey's first choice, pinch Smith usually playing arsenic a master batter successful region cricket.

But England person chosen Smith to support successful nan first Test against West Indies and he responded by making 70 connected time 2 astatine Lord's.

"We've sewage a very bully narration and he has helped maine a batch pinch my keeping," Smith told Test Match Special. "He said to maine astir what to expect from this experience."

Smith was nan wicketkeeper connected his erstwhile appearances for England, successful 2 one-day internationals against Ireland past year.

A talented stroke-player, Smith has been picked pinch an oculus connected nan Ashes circuit of 2025-26 mostly because of his expertise pinch nan bat.

And, connected nan time earlier his 24th birthday, he showed his expertise to people astatine different tempos. Smith took 47 deliveries to make his first 30 runs then, pinch only nan tail for company, deed 40 disconnected his adjacent 42 deliveries. One of his 2 leg-side sixes went connected to nan tile of nan Tavern Stand.

"It has been an astonishing day," said Smith, who usually bats astatine number 4 aliases 5 for Surrey, but lined-up astatine 7 for England.

"Batting 7 and keeping is simply a caller domiciled for me, but I'm happy to adapt. Batting pinch nan tail is caller for maine arsenic well, truthful I americium learning connected nan occupation a bit."

Smith's effort helped England to 371, a first-innings lead of 250. West Indies past slumped to 79-6, leaving England poised for an innings triumph wrong 3 days.

He added: "It was nan astir nervy I've been erstwhile going retired to bat for a agelong time, truthful to spell connected and lend and put nan squad successful a winning position is astir nan important thing.

"We are adjacent to a cleanable position. We wanted to commencement nan summertime powerfully and get connected nan beforehand foot, which we person done. Hopefully we'll get nan past 4 wickets arsenic quickly arsenic imaginable tomorrow."

Smith's first Test for England is besides nan past for their all-time starring wicket-taker James Anderson.

When Anderson made his debut against Zimbabwe connected this crushed 21 years ago, England's wicketkeeper was Alec Stewart, now Surrey's head of cricket and 37 years Smith's senior.

Anderson concisely joined Smith successful nan middle, but did not look a shot because Smith was past man retired erstwhile he was caught connected nan square-leg bound later successful nan aforesaid over.

The 41-year-old past took 2 wickets to move his profession tally to 703 and is poised to extremity his legendary world profession connected Friday.

"It was surreal," said Smith. "I americium somewhat gutted I didn't spot that past shot spell for six truthful he could person his moment. That's 1 point I regret astir that innings, I think.

"Everyone is going to miss Jimmy erstwhile he goes and to beryllium portion of this is beautiful special."