Thursday 20 July 2017 21:09, UK
Essex's Tom Westley is set to earn his first cap when England take on South Africa in the third Test. So what do we know about the right-hander? Here's a quick overview...
Full name: Thomas Westley
Age: 28
Born: Cambridge
Twitter: @Westley21
Batting: 8,050 first-class runs at 37.44
Bowling: 55 first-class wickets at 46.45
Why have the selectors turned to him now?
Timing is everything. Westley's name has cropped up consistently in recent seasons as he has piled on the runs for Essex but he is finally getting his chance now due to a combination of England's continued top-order frailties and his own rich vein of form. With Gary Ballance out of the picture due to a finger fracture, his time has come…
Tell me more about those runs because his T20 form looks a little lean…
Different format. He caught the selectors' eyes earlier in the summer with a run of three hundreds in six first-class innings, including an unbeaten 106 while batting at number three for the England Lions against South Africa. It was no second-string attack, either, featuring Morne Morkel, Kagiso Rabada, Chris Morris and Keshav Maharaj.
Can he offer the stability England need?
We'll find out soon enough - but he comes from decent Essex stock, with Graham Gooch and Alastair Cook among his mentors, both of whom have the same penchant for grinding opposition attacks into the dust. A tally of 478 Championship runs at an average of 53.11 are the types of numbers selectors like.
You didn't mention Nasser! Does he rate him?
Of course! Among other things, he said: "He has had to wait his turn and is no spring chicken but I think he knows his game well and he will be batting in a position that he bats in for Essex. He comes in with or after Alastair Cook in that line-up for Essex, so if a wicket does fall for England, he will feel very comfortable out there joining Alastair in the middle."
Sound words. But Nasser would also say that not everyone can turn domestic runs into Test runs…
Fair point - but Westley has scored performed at each level up the ladder and in addition has taken on the roles of former England U19 captain and is currently Essex vice-captain. He has risen to the responsibility, much like Root has done with the bat since stepping up as Test skipper, and seems to thrive on it.
Got any fun facts about him?
One or two. Did you know that when he first played for Essex Second XI as a 15-year-old - against Middlesex in 2004 - the opposition were led by former England spinner John Emburey? Embers was 51 at the time, making an age difference of over three-and-half decades between the two. Oh, and he scored 144 against the touring Australians in 2015 - perhaps knocking the visitors out of their stride a little ahead of England's first Test win at Cardiff.
Could he be England's third or fourth spinner?
Come on, you know we don't like those terms - but yes, he does offer Root an off-spin option (behind Moeen Ali, Liam Dawson and possibly the skipper himself) and has been schooled in part by former spinner Peter Such.
Watch the third Test between England and South Africa - brought to you in association with Sky Ocean Rescue - live on Sky Sports Cricket from 10am on Thursday.
