“Keaton is struggling a little bit. I’d be lying if I said we’re not worried about it and I’d be lying if I said he hadn’t been thinking about it.”
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 27/01/19 6:41pm
Keaton Jennings has scored two centuries and one half-century in 16 Test matches for England
England will ponder changes “in a number of positions” following their first Test thrashing in Barbados, with head coach Trevor Bayliss admitting opener Keaton Jennings is increasingly vulnerable.
After winning eight of their previous nine matches, including a rare overseas whitewash of Sri Lanka, England began 2019 with a 381-run humbling by Windies.
Their batsmen were largely responsible, bowled out for 77 in the first innings before allowing part-time spinner Roston Chase to claim 8-60 in the second. All the while their own attack looked ill-judged, with Adil Rashid and Sam Curran failing to justify their selections.
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Bayliss was taken aback by the flimsy nature of the performance and will respond by examining the make-up of the XI for next week’s clash in Antigua.
“We will have some thinking to do in a number of positions,” he said. “Every time we lose a wicket it [feels like] the beginning of a collapse.
“We will sit down, have a chat with the guys and try to get to the bottom of it. It’s not the first time that we’ve succumbed in a short space of time. The boys are in the dressing room hurting, I’d be worried if they weren’t.
“I think it gets down to a bit of guts and determination to get through those tough periods. They bowled extremely well against us, but when a team bowls extremely well against us we have got to be able to deal with it.”
4:12 Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain debate England’s selection issues after their hammering by Windies, including Keaton Jennings’ form and whether Stuart Broad should return for the second Test in AntiguaMichael Atherton and Nasser Hussain debate England’s selection issues after their hammering by Windies, including Keaton Jennings’ form and whether Stuart Broad should return for the second Test in Antigua
Stuart Broad appears highly likely to return at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, his surprise omission in Bridgetown failing to pay off, while pace pair Chris Woakes and Mark Wood, and left-arm spinner Jack Leach will also be looking for a chance.
It was, though, the batting that let England down most in the series opener and Jennings is under most pressure, with knocks of 17 and 14 dragging his Test average down to 25.86.
It is just four Tests since he scored a fine, unbeaten 146 in Galle, but the Lancashire batsman’s only successes have come in Asia and pace bowling remains an issue.
Bayliss’ outlook has typically been a forgiving one towards out-of-form batsmen, with his stated policy of preferring one chance too many to one chance too few.
1:59 Head coach Trevor Bayliss has questioned the mindset of his England players after their heavy defeat to WindiesHead coach Trevor Bayliss has questioned the mindset of his England players after their heavy defeat to Windies
And while that may buy Jennings one more opportunity, keeping Joe Denly’s Test debut on hold, there is no denying his performances have become a concern.
“Keaton is struggling a little bit,” admitted Bayliss. “I’d be lying if I said we’re not worried about it and I’d be lying if I said he hadn’t been thinking about it.
“He’s one of the hardest workers we’ve got and he’s going to leave no stone unturned in making it better. Let’s wait and see.”
Watch the second Test between Windies and England from 1.30pm, Thursday on Sky Sports Cricket.
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