Mark Butcher has expressed concerns over Jamie Smith's ability with the gloves after he was picked ahead of Jonny Bairstow, Ben Foakes, and Durham keeper Ollie Robinson for England's upcoming three-match Test series against the West Indies.
Speaking on the Wisden Cricket Weekly podcast, Butcher said that although Surrey's Jamie Smith is a "wildly talented batter", his ability with the gloves is a cause for some concern.
"As far as his keeping is concerned, he's got an enormous amount of work to do," said Butcher. "Jamie Smith starts as a keeper who is not as good as Jonny Bairstow, yet."
Butcher suggested that Smith's inexperience in keeping up the slope at Lord's could mean a baptism of fire on his debut, especially as his first game in whites for England will coincide with James Anderson's last.
"No matter what backing you get from the inside, if you begin your Test career and drop a couple of clangers, or drop the ball for a five-for in Jimmy Anderson's last Test match you'll get abuse," he said. "It's a very difficult place to start from."
The former England international also suggested that Smith was picked ahead of Robinson because of his ability to score quick runs lower down the order despite averaging less this season. "Coming in at No.7, [Smith] could do exactly what Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum want from a player coming in and batting with the tail," he said.
Smith is expected to play every game of England's three-match series against the West Indies, and Butcher believes his inclusion indicates that he's been marked as England's first-choice keeper for the next Ashes series, set to take place in 2025/26, during the Australian summer. "You could only imagine they think that Smith has got such a high ceiling that they want to get him in as early as possible, to get him ready before the Ashes."
England will play the first of their three Tests against the West Indies on 10 July, at Lord's, in what will be the final game of Anderson's illustrious international career.
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