Ben Foakes: News

Benjamin Thomas Foakes is an English cricketer who made his first-class debut for Essex against a touring Sri Lankan side in 2011. In 2014, he joined Surrey County Cricket Club but it was only in 2016 that he became a constant presence behind the stumps for Surrey. During that time, he was touted as one of England’s best wicketkeepers. In fact, his rise to stardom began at an early age. In the 2012 U-19 World Cup in which England was knocked out in the quarter-finals, Foakes was the leading run-getter for the team. In an era where natural wicket keepers are as rare as hen's teeth, he proved to be an anomaly. Although both a wicketkeeper and a batsman, he’s always been a wicketkeeper first. It’s this natural talent for wicketkeeping and adaptability as a batsman along with an injury to Johnny Bairstow that earned him a Test debut against Sri Lanka in 2018-19. In a country where wicketkeeper-batsmen are not short in supply, Foakes continued to impress in the Test matches he played and was included in England's series against New Zealand in 2021. He, however, missed the series due to a hamstring injury.