Will Jacks was hailed as “outstanding” by England white-ball captain Harry Brook on Tuesday night after he took five wickets to fire his side to an 89-run win against Sri Lanka.
Jacks starred with both bat and ball as England took a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series, helping them reach 265 all out with an unbeaten 46 off 47 balls before claiming five wickets with the ball.
In the 48th over, the 27-year-old, who has moved down the order, ruthlessly hammered Dushmantha Chameera for four consecutive fours, making the score 18 down.
He was bowled in the 20th over of Sri Lanka’s innings and would end the day with career-best figures of 5-22 from seven overs.
“He’s really growing into this role,” Brook said of Jacks. “He has accepted everything we want to do, just like the other guys.
“We’re talking about all sorts of aspects of the game, trying to adapt to the conditions, and he’s done that extremely well since he’s been back over the last 18 months.
“He could have easily moaned and groaned about batting in the middle order and playing as an all-rounder, but he’s really grown into it and accepted that that’s going to be his role for a period of time.
“He’s been a very vital player. He’s not a part-time player; he’s a very good off-spin player. He proved that today. He can spin the ball a lot and keep shots when we need him to.”
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England set Sri Lanka a score of 266 in the first innings before bowling out their opponents for 176
After Jacks first dismissed Charith Asalanka, England had struggled to remove Kusal Mendis, who produced 42 off 60 deliveries. Jacks stepped up again to secure the breakthrough, trapping the Sri Lankan captain lbw on the 27th ball.
Dunith Wellalage top-scored for Sri Lanka with 45 off 36 deliveries, but just as he closed out his half-century, Jacks claimed his third wicket of the day. Two deliveries later, the England all-rounder removed Asitha Fernando for a duck.
Jacks then wrapped up England’s victory with the delivery of the day, dismissing Dilshan Madushanka for nothing with a sensational spin ball that crashed into the stumps of the Sri Lankan bowler.
His figures are the best by an England player in an ODI since Vic Marks took 5-20 against New Zealand in Wellington in 1984.
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Jacks said he likes to approach each match with an open mind
“I go into every game with an open mind and see what it is when I go out there,” Jacks said when asked about going down the order. “I think it’s quite refreshing and keeps me calm.”
About his bowling, he added: “Batting on the wicket and knowing how it was, I knew I would play a good role.
“Depending on what time you bowl, I don’t really mind. Harry (Brook) likes us to be as flexible as possible; that’s why I think we’re achieving some good things.
“No matter the time, you have to do your best.”
Morgan: Jacks impressive in new role
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Eoin Morgan praised the England breeder for continuing to grow in his new position
Sky Sports Cricket’s Eoin Morgan said:
“His clarity of thought in that role and the way he chooses every situation is different from game to game.
“He’s shown a fantastic attitude and puts his heart into every game. It’s easy for an opener to go down the order and think, ‘It’s not my day’. But batting at five, six or seven is high-risk and high-reward.
“How you manage the early part of your turn is the key to setting up the rest of it.
“Even early in his innings, Jacks felt like he was getting scratched a little bit. But hanging in there and building a strong start allowed him to get going.
“Today, he didn’t get into the game as early as he would have liked, because Rehan Ahmed got the ball first.
“He takes a big turn, and we saw some things he wasn’t happy with. He was trying to be as stingy as possible.
“It was a great day for him. He continues to grow into that role, which is really good because it’s a key role in ODI cricket.”
Watch the second one-day international of the three-match series between England and Sri Lanka live Sky Sports Cricket AND Sky Sports’ main event from 12:00 on Thursday (first ball 12:30). The latest Sky Sports offers OR transmission without contract in TANI.
