LONDON: England’s Test captain Ben Stokes termed the wicketkeeper batter Ben Foakes ‘world-class’ following his match-winning partnership with Joe Root in the recently-concluded Lord’s Test.

Foakes, who made his return to the side after a dismal show by the English team in the Ashes, had been uncertain about his spot in the team as the 29-years-old failed to make an impact with his bat.

In the recently-concluded Lord’s Test, however, Foakes somehow justified his selection as he displayed his potential and made a crucial contribution with the bat by putting put on an unbeaten 120-run partnership with Root.

The English captain Stokes, was full of praises for his wicketkeeper batter’s performance while terming him the best in the world.

“We’re not in the position to not select world-class players at the moment,” Stokes said. “Ben is the best wicketkeeper in the world.

“That’s not just my own opinion, that’s a lot of people’s opinions. Batting at seven, which he does for England, is different from the role that he plays for Surrey because he bats higher up,” Stokes maintained.

The all-rounder further praised Foakes’ brilliance behind the wicket and claimed his presence gives a lot of confidence to him and the bowlers.

“To have a gloveman like Ben behind the stumps gives me a lot of confidence, and it gives the bowlers a lot of confidence, knowing that nine times out of 10, he’s going to take everything that comes to him,” Stokes claimed.

“He’s only going to get better with the more confidence that he gets, and as I said, he’s the best keeper in the world and it’s great to have him behind the stumps,” he concluded.

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