Stuart Broad has heaped praise on Jordan Cox and says he could replace Jamie Smith as England’s future wicketkeeper after the Essex batter made an impressive 73 off 100 balls in the first Test against Pakistan.
Cox – replacing the injured Jacob Bethell – came in at No 3 and hit 10 fours on the way to his maiden Test fifty in just his second match. He was one of four England top-order batters to make a half-century in an impressive performance that saw them build a 195-run lead over a lacklustre Pakistan by stumps on day two at Headingley.
While Bethell is a shoo-in to make a return to No 3 after he recovers from a knee injury, Broad feels that Cox’s knock could help him earn a shot at another role in England’s Test XI:
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Highlights from the second day of the first Test between England and Pakistan at Headingley
“I thought he played really nicely,” Broad said on the Sky Sports Cricket podcast.
“He’s batting number three in his second Test match, he’s scored a lot of his runs for Essex, batting four and five, averaging 65 for them.
“But the opportunity in the England side isn’t at four or five, it’s at three because of Jacob Bethell’s injury. So he wants to grab that opportunity.
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England’s Ollie Robinson analyses his wobble seam delivery that was successful for him during the first day against Pakistan
“Half of his mind must be thinking, well, Jacob Bethell’s coming back into this side – there’s no doubt about that. [Bethell made] a century at the Sydney Cricket Ground and looks a fine player.
“‘But If I score runs, maybe I could be the wicketkeeper batting number seven’ – and maybe that’s his slot into this team.
“He’s going to do that by weight of runs and showing that he’s streetwise, he’s battle-hardened and he’s ready for the fight.
“He showed all those attributes today. And he played really nicely on a pitch that has nibbled and spun a little bit.
“I think England will be really happy with the position they’ve got themselves into. 364 runs with a good lead. And Cox will be thrilled with his day’s work.”
Is Lawrence England’s next all-rounder?
Lawrence made his first Test half-century since 2022
Stuart Broad also praised the performance of all-rounder Dan Lawrence, who made his first Test half-century since 2022 after coming in at No 6.
Despite his impressive performance with the bat, Broad has argued he needs to perform with the ball if he wants to make a claim to replace Ben Stokes as England all-rounder:
“That number seven or number six spot in front of Jamie Smith is up for grabs,” Broad added.
“You’ve got Will Jacks as an option who’s currently missing. This is the Stokes conundrum.
“Dan Lawrence will score useful runs… But his bowling will be the one [facet of his game] that we need to see a little bit from.
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Dan Lawrence survives an lbw and a run out scare in the same delivery as Pakistan look to claim their fifth wicket against England
“He’s got nine wickets at an average over 70 for Surrey this year, but if he can go and pick up useful wickets with the ball, that could solve that all-rounder conundrum and allow England to play the four quicks that they can rotate throughout.
“So yeah, he’s got a great opportunity, Dan Lawrence. He’s been in and out of this side. He’s opened the batting at times, he’s filled gaps for the team, he’s been a really good tourist and team person, but now – this is his chance.
“England have gone: ‘here’s your shirt, you’re batting six, make some useful contributions with the ball. We’ve got South Africa coming next, if you can hold up an end – then we’ve got the Ashes.
“What an opportunity for him.”
Cox: I don’t want to give this opportunity up
Jordan Cox made a maiden Test half-century with 73 off 100 balls against Pakistan
Cox has had to wait for his opportunity on the highest stage, missing out on a scheduled debut in December 2024 after breaking a thumb in training and then seeing Jacob Bethell leapfrog him in the pecking order.
Now he has a second chance and appears ready to make the most of it, holding himself to even higher standards rather than settling for a strong first impression in the number three position.
“I think I let myself down a tiny bit but at the end of the day you take 70-odd don’t you? I’d have taken it at the start of the Test match,” he said.
“But it’s about trying to put your foot through that door as much as possible and bang it down. Once I got to 50, I moved to 60 quite quickly and I was thinking ‘there’s a chance here if can keep being disciplined, keep going ball by ball’.
“I definitely had it in the back of my mind, saying ‘you’ve worked so hard, don’t give this opportunity up’. That’s exactly what I do in county cricket – basically look at the runs I need to score and work down from there.”
Jordan Cox made a half-century in his first Test innings at No 3 for England
Cox suggested there was a collective feeling of a missed opportunity from those who got themselves in without killing the game off, but Pakistan are already in need of a huge turnaround to get themselves back in contention.
“Every team and every player wants to score Test hundreds and there’s four of us who got 50s today, so one of us could probably have kicked on,” he said.
“Instead of making just a hundred, let’s make it 150, 160, 170 and that puts us in a better position, definitely.
“I’m not (happy) quite yet! Hopefully we can get another 50 then we’ll get to our work with the ball.”
Watch day three of the first Test between England and Pakistan, at Headingley, live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 10.15am on Thursday (11am first ball, weather-permitting). Stream cricket and more sport contract-free with NOW
England vs Pakistan Test series schedule
All games live on Sky Sports; all 11am starts UK and Ireland
First Test (Headingley) – August 19-23Second Test (Lord’s) – August 27-31Third Test (Edgbaston) – September 9-13
