For Foakes, the sense of finality is a tough pill to swallow. He said that in the past, when players like Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler were rotated in and out of the wicketkeeper spot, he always felt there was a chance for a return to the national side
Ben Foakes, the 32-year-old wicketkeeper, has expressed his doubts about playing for England again after being dropped from the Test side last summer. Although he was previously omitted ahead of the 2023 Ashes in favor of Jonny Bairstow, Foakes admitted that this time it felt more “final.”
Speaking to Telegraph Sport, Foakes reflected on his experience: “This felt more final than the Ashes. Then, it was like ‘we’ve got too many players to fit in the slots – not necessarily that we don’t like your skill set.’ That’s probably easier to accept, however hard it is to get dropped. Whereas when it’s ‘yeah, we’re just moving on’ – I think naturally, it feels like more of an ending.”
For Foakes, the sense of finality is a tough pill to swallow. He said that in the past, when players like Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler were rotated in and out of the wicketkeeper spot, he always felt there was a chance for a return to the national side. This time, however, the decision felt more permanent, especially under the current management, who have given players longer runs without frequently rotating positions.
“When you essentially get racked off, it’s a weird position to be in in terms of motivation. I’ve always felt that I might still play for England and had that desire to get back in. That’s always been the driving force. Now, they’re looking to go a fresh way,” Foakes explained. He admitted that the current situation feels different, acknowledging that under the new regime, players are backed for longer periods, making it less likely for someone like him to return.
Foakes also revealed that since the decision to drop him, he has not had any contact from England’s management. “I knew I was dropped already – just because of the way that lads were being pulled out of games. You don’t need a degree to work out that if you haven’t been told, you’ve been dropped,” he said. “I knew it was coming. Then I got told I was dropped. And then ever since, no contact.”
Reflecting on England’s approach to wicketkeeping, Foakes believes that England views the role differently from other cricketing nations. “I definitely think England views keeping differently to other countries. I think a lot of countries go more down the keeping route. We obviously don’t do that as much, and that’s just their preference,” he said.
For now, Foakes seems resigned to the idea that his time with England may be over, but his honesty about the situation shows the emotional toll of being left out, especially after years of fluctuating roles in the team. His future with England remains uncertain, but his experience highlights the challenges players face when national teams opt for a fresh direction.
