Ben Foakes earned generous praise from the commentators on the third morning of the second India-England Test in Visakhapatnam for taking a sharp low catch off a thick inside edge.
Ben Foakes has had a good time behind the stumps for England in this series. Coming into the tour, his place in the XI was uncertain, but Harry Brook’s last-minute exclusion due to personal reasons opened up a slot for Foakes to fit in easily, while Jonny Bairstow played as a specialist batter.
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After stitching a useful partnership with Ollie Pope in the second innings of the Hyderabad Test, Foakes continued to make important contributions in the Vizag Test.
In the first innings, he took a sharp catch off Shreyas Iyer off an inside edge after the ball had kept low. He had a near-encore in the second, taking another sharp, low catch off a thick inside edge while standing up to the stumps, this time of the debutant Rajat Patidar.
Foakes’ technique and application behind the stumps was widely appreciated by the commentators. “A demonstration of extraordinary skill from the wicketkeeper”, said Harsha Bhogle on air. Former England captain Eoin Morgan was all praise as well: “What an outstanding catch from Ben Foakes.”
Dinesh Karthik, a wicketkeeper himself, was on air as well when Foakes took the catch to dismiss Patidar: “Brilliant keeping, this, from Ben Foakes, he’s had a lovely Test match with the gloves.”
Dissecting his technique after he took the catch of Shreyas Iyer in the first innings, the commentators had explained how Foakes’ gloves were still touching the ground when the ball pitched, and how he “got up with the ball”, which allowed him to react to the low bounce and the deviation off the edge and catch the ball.
Foakes received appreciation on social media as well for his two low catches off Iyer and Patidar, and for his keeping in general.
Ben Foakes catching mosquitos around his ankles is quite something.
— Jarrod Kimber (@ajarrodkimber) February 4, 2024
Ben Foakes has taken two superb under-edge catches to the spinners in this Test
— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) February 4, 2024
When you watch Ben Foakes keep in these conditions, one does wonder how Eng could ever have considered *not* picking him… #INDvENG
— Isabelle Westbury (@izzywestbury) February 4, 2024
With the bat, Foakes was dismissed cheaply in the first innings of the Visakhapatnam Test match: he was bamboozled by a Kuldeep Yadav leg-spinner. England will hope he carries on the confidence from behind the stumps to in front of them when England come out to chase.
