SOUTHAMPTON: England national selector Ed Smith gave his vote of confidence to batsman Joe Denly ahead of the first Test against West Indies starting July 8 at the Ageas Bowl.
The hosts on Saturday had announced a 13-man squad for the first Test of the three-match #raisethebat series. Apart from the squad, nine players will remain at the venue as Test reserves.
Thirty four-year-old Denly is expected to cover for regular Test skipper Joe Root in the series opener, who left the bio-secure bubble and returned to Sheffield to be at the birth of his second child.
"There has been a real emphasis on solidity at the top of the order and getting a bank of first-innings runs so that the bowlers can bowl as a unit and win games of cricket. There has been more solidity this winter and Joe has been a big part of that," Smith said via videoconference as per Sky Sports.
"The standout performances may have come down the order from four, five or six but the platform has been laid by the top order. Joe has made lots of good starts, lots of good contributions," he added. IANS
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