Smith targets revival against Pakistan after challenging year | The Express Tribune

England wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith says the upcoming Test series against Pakistan offers him the ideal opportunity to rediscover his best form after enduring the most difficult period of his international career.

The 26-year-old enjoyed a remarkable start to life in Test cricket, quickly establishing himself as England’s first-choice wicketkeeper and one of the team’s most reliable batters.

Smith averaged 58.64 in his first 12 Tests and became the fastest wicketkeeper to reach 1,000 Test runs, achieving the milestone in just 21 innings.

His progress, however, has slowed over the past year.

During England’s recent Ashes campaign in Australia, Smith managed just one half-century, scoring 60 in Adelaide, as England suffered a 4-1 series defeat.

His overall Test average has fallen to 39.62 after 22 matches, although he has still produced three fifties in his last 10 appearances.

Smith believes his latest innings, another 60 against New Zealand at Trent Bridge, can provide the foundation for a stronger showing in the upcoming ICC World Test Championship series against Pakistan.

“I’ve obviously been slightly disappointed with how the last six to nine months have gone. They’ve been challenging, there’s no doubt about that,” Smith told the Press Association.

“But I think every player experiences that throughout their career and I feel like I will be better for these experiences.

“If I go back to Australia, I’ll be in a better position to know the conditions and know what to expect and improve on that.

“Hopefully against Pakistan, I can play how I played in the last innings at Trent Bridge and have a bit more success there.”

Smith has also been working to improve his wicketkeeping under the guidance of former England star Sarah Taylor, widely regarded as one of the finest wicketkeepers in the women’s game.

He described the process as a long-term project focused on refining the technical aspects of his game.

“I’m definitely enjoying working with Sarah. She’s a fantastic coach and brings a lot of energy every day,” Smith said.

“We’ve had some good periods already in the short time she’s worked with England.

“I’ve just worked on little bits. It’s had varying degrees of success, it’s more of a project.”

Smith acknowledged that occasional mistakes behind the stumps can overshadow the progress being made but remains confident that the work will pay off.

The keeper-batter also credited former England coach Brendon McCullum for helping him overcome doubts about taking on the wicketkeeping role at Test level.

“When you’re not keeping for your county, it can bring a fair amount of criticism, but he instilled a lot of confidence in me to be one of the best in the world,” Smith said.

The first Test between England and Pakistan in the ICC World Test Championship begins at Headingley on August 19.