Jennings proves doubters wrong

One of my more senior colleagues in the English press corps often says: “This game will make a mug of you.” When it comes to Keaton Jennings, I’m happy to say that seems the case.

On the first day of this fourth Test in Mumbai, Jennings became the first England batsman since Jonathan Trott in 2009 – against Australia at The Oval – to score a hundred on debut.

Full scorecard: India v England, fourth Test

Just over a week ago I was convinced he was a poor pick to replace the injured Haseeb Hameed in England’s squad for the final two Tests of this series in India.

The 24-year-old had enjoyed a fine season for Durham, scoring over 1500 runs in the County Championship at an average of 64.50. His record before that, though, was underwhelming.

Following England for much of the year there is scant opportunity to watch domestic cricket. I had seen Jennings play for Durham against Surrey at The Oval in early May this year and while he batted well for a half-century I didn’t see anything that jumped out and said he was England material.

My opinion may have been different had I had the opportunity to watch more during the rest of the Northern summer.

Fast forward seven months and Jennings has made everybody sit up and take notice with a debut Test hundred that suggests he could be a batsman England rely upon for years to come. 

As happens so often, big players rise to the big occasion. That certainly seems the case here.

Those who had watched Jennings intently during his four years at Durham knew this already.

Well, nobody can actually know for sure a player can make the jump from domestic to Test cricket.

But the die-hard fans in the North-East who questioned the sceptical piece I wrote on this site last week after Jennings was called up, had a fair idea he was a player who could make the cut.

I received plenty of criticism on Twitter at the time – most of it reasoned – and have had many messages since questioning my piece.

As somebody who is paid for their opinion I can only call it as I see it at the time.

But I’m happy to be proved wrong and excited England have found another player who looks the real deal at the top of the order.

Think I'll be penning an apology to Keaton Jennings in my @CricketAus piece tonight...delighted to be proved wrong. Looks a player

One of the nicest things about this story is the man himself – we have now spoken to Jennings twice in three days in Mumbai and he appears a relaxed, amiable and down-to-earth guy.

After his innings here, you couldn’t help smile at the description of his chaotic morning.

Jennings, who had only arrived in India 72 hours previously as an injury replacement for Haseeb Hameed, admitted: “I woke up at 5am, thinking I'd missed the bus, so jumped out of bed, panicked where everything was then settled myself down when I saw the time.

“It’s been a dream come true, and it’s just surreal that it’s come on debut. It’s been an incredible day, an incredible 72 hours.”

The Johannesburg-born batsman is from rich cricketing stock, his father, the former wicketkeeper and South Africa coach, Ray Jennings having overseen his son’s early career before he moved to England in 2012.

Jennings senior did not make it to Mumbai, insisting he didn’t want to cramp his son’s style and instead went on holiday to Mauritius.

Keaton was on 96 when the lights went out in his father’s beach resort in the Indian Ocean. Jennings senior said: "It came back on when he was on 111 and then he scored one more run and was out. I was in the air when he got picked so I missed that too.”

Ray, you weren’t the only one to miss something with regards to your son.