MS Dhoni had quick hands but…’ – Alec Stewart compares England’s wicketkeeper with MS Dhoni
Alec Stewart (Source: X)
Former England wicket-keeper Alec Stewart lauded Ben Foakes for his wicketkeeping skills. He also compared him with MS Dhoni as he is fastest behind the stumps. In a recent interview Alec Stewart stated that Ben Foakes has impressed him with glovework in the ongoing Test between India and England.
“He does things that no one else can do. His hand speed is second to none,” Stewart told The Times.
“MS Dhoni had quick hands but Foakes has the quickest hands in the game and the ball stays in them,” the former wicketkeeper said.
Stewart also discussed how Foakes was aware of how much spin bowling he would face in India and the improvements he made to his training.
People should not underestimate his batting – Alec Stewart
“He knew there would be a lot of spin bowling, so his training was 80-20 in favor of his standing-up stuff, which he’s already great at — bouncing, twisting, and keeping the ball low. That’s why I was so happy for him—after all the hours he’s put in, he gets rewarded with some of the catches he made.
We’d talk about the position of his feet, his height, and where his hands are. He is the leader. We utilized the Merlin spin machine, spinning mats, or mats with holes cut in them, so some spun and some bounced. We do it from 22 yards, 10, or eleven yards. He understands what he wants to work on, and we’ve been doing it since he joined us from Essex in 2014.
“I remarked a long back that he’s the finest in the world, and given the circumstances, he might be playing 50 or 60 Tests, but I understand the need to balance the side, which is why he hasn’t played more. “People should not underestimate his batting,” he said.
