Taha Hashim reports from Lord’s on a brutal maiden half-century from England opener Phil Salt.
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Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy are still the kings, of course. Since the start of 2020, the former has struck 637 runs in 13 ODI innings at an average of 49 and strike rate of 109.45. For a while after the 2019 World Cup, Roy seemed to have lost his way – his highest ODI score in 2020 was 32 – but normal service is beginning to resume: a 52-ball 60 against Sri Lanka at the start of this month was his second half-century in three innings and included 10 fours. Beyond the numbers, there’s a presence they both carry and an attitude they exude when they stride out to kick off an innings for England in 50-over cricket – they’re going to take it on from the top, forget regret and turn the new ball old in a hurry.
Phil Salt is unlikely to replace either one of Bairstow or Roy on a permanent basis anytime soon, but the 24-year-old showed today that he could well be a long-term heir to the throne. The final result was a 54-ball 60 that ultimately set England up for a series-sealing win, but it’s the process that merits closer inspection.
Right from the start, there was selflessness to Salt’s strokeplay. Rather than worry about the low score (7) on debut, he took initiative against Shaheen Afridi to claim two boundaries from the first over of the match. Thursday’s half-centurions perished for ducks and Salt even offered a chance to a flying Imam-ul-Haq at backward point, but he still wanted to live a little, swiping, thrashing and thumping his way through the new-ball spell. The standout shot was off the irrepressible Hasan Ali in the middle of the Pakistan quick’s second over: Salt advanced down the pitch before the ball was out of the hand, smacked it through the long-off region and turned his back before the boundary rope could enter the gaze of the camera. This was a man who wanted to get the game moving, someone cut from the same cloth as Bairstow and Roy.
That Salt gives it a tonk will hardly be news to those who have seen him play at domestic level. After signing a junior professional contract for Sussex in 2015, the Wales-born right-hander started to make waves in 2018 under the tutelage of head coach Jason Gillespie. Speaking to Cricbuzz a couple of years ago, Salt outlined the simple but effective advice the former Australia quick provided early on in their working relationship: “He just told me to watch the ball and react to it. He didn’t give me any instructions technically. He just asked me to trust myself.” A T20I call-up was his reward in May 2019 and he’s earned stints in the PSL, BBL and CPL too. There was even a 58-ball century against Ireland for the Lions last year – but England’s white-ball depth has meant it’s only now, after a whole squad has had to drop out, that Salt has found a way in and been able to make his statement.
There is still room for improvement. Bairstow and Roy don’t just limit themselves to half-centuries; they go on and make it big. With just the one competitive white-ball hundred to his name, Salt still has to show he possesses that same ruthlessness. His dismissal to Saud Shakeel – moving outside off for the sweep, he was bowled by a full ball from the left-arm spinner – meant that opportunity to go above and beyond was spurned. When there are so many gifted players putting their hands up to bat in England’s white-ball set-up, that ruthlessness becomes even more important.
Nonetheless, this was a day to savour: a first half-century for England, a victory at Lord’s and a series win, too. Roy and Bairstow remain, but we’ll be seeing more of Phil Salt too.
