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Ben Foakes celebrates a dismissal©AFP
Former England wicketkeeper Alec Stewart praised Ben Foakes and added that he is currently faster behind the stumps compared to MS Dhoni. During a recent interview, Stewart was asked about Foakes, who impressed with his glove work in the ongoing Test series against India and the former cricketer was quick to compare him to one of the sport’s modern greats. “He does things that no one else can do. His hand speed is second to none,” Stewart said. The times.
“MS Dhoni had quick hands but Foakes has the quickest hands in the game and the ball stays in them,” the former goalkeeper said.
Stewart also spoke at length about how Foakes was aware of how much spin bowling he will have to face in India and what changes he made to his training.
“He knew there would be a lot of spin bowling, so (his training) was 80-20 in favor of his standing technique, which he is brilliant at anyway: the ball bounces, the ball spins, the ball stays low. . That’s why I was so happy for him, after all the hours he’s put in and then being rewarded with some of the catches he made.”
“We discussed the position of his feet, the height he reaches, where his hands are. He directs it. We use the Merlin spinning machine, mats that spin or one with holes, so some spin and some bounce. We do it from 22 meters, or from ten or 11 meters. He knows what he wants to work on and we have done that since he joined us in 2014 from Essex.”
“I said a while ago that he is the best in the world and, except for the circumstances, he could play 50 or 60 tests, but I see the need to balance the team and that is why he has not played (more). People should not underestimate his batting,” he added.
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