England vs Sri Lanka: Harry Brook hails ‘outstanding’ Will Jacks for thriving in new role after five-for | Cricket News

Will Jacks was hailed as “outstanding” by England white-ball captain Harry Brook on Tuesday night as he took five wickets to spur his side to an 89-run victory against Sri Lanka.

Jacks starred with both bat and ball as England took a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series, helping them reach 265 all out with an unbeaten 46 from 47 balls before claiming five wickets with the ball.

In the 48th over, the 27-year-old, who has been moved down the order, ruthlessly smashed Dushmantha Chameera for four consecutive fours, making a score of 18 off the over.

He was brought on to bowl in the 20th over of Sri Lanka’s innings, and would end the day with career-best figures of 5-22 from seven overs.

“He’s really growing into this role,” Brook said of Jacks. “He’s bought into everything that we want to do, as have the other boys.

“We’re talking about all sorts of aspects of the game, trying to adapt to conditions, and he’s done that exceptionally well since he’s come back in over the last 18 months.

“He could have easily just moaned and groaned about batting in the middle-order and playing as an all-rounder, but he’s really grown into that and accepted that’s going to be his role for a period of time.

“He’s been a very vital player. He’s not a part-timer; he is a very good off-spinner. He proved that today. He can spin the ball big and contain batters when we need to.”

After Jacks first dismissed Charith Asalanka for one, England had struggled to remove Kusal Mendis, who brought up 42 from 60 deliveries. Jacks stepped up again to provide the breakthrough, trapping the Sri Lanka captain lbw in the 27th over.

Dunith Wellalage top-scored for Sri Lanka with 45 from 36 deliveries, but just as he closed in on his half-century, Jacks claimed his third wicket of the day. Two deliveries later, the England all-rounder removed Asitha Fernando for a duck.

Jacks then wrapped up England’s victory with the delivery of the day, dismissing Dilshan Madushanka for nought with a sensational turning ball that crashed into the Sri Lankan bowler’s stumps.

His figures are the best by an England spinner in an ODI since Vic Marks took 5-20 against New Zealand in Wellington in 1984.

“I go into each game with an open mind and see what it is when I walk out there,” Jacks said when asked about batting down the order. “I think it’s quite refreshing and it keeps me relaxed.”

On his bowling, he added: “Having batted on the wicket and knowing what it was like, I knew I was going to play a decent role.

“Depending on what time you bowl, it doesn’t really bother me. Harry [Brook] likes us to be as flexible as possible; that’s why I think we’re achieving some good things.

“No matter the time, you’ve just got to do your best.”

Morgan: Jacks impressing in new role

Sky Sports Cricket’s Eoin Morgan said:

“His clarity of thought in that role and the way he unpicks every situation is different from game to game.

“He’s shown a fantastic attitude and wholeheartedly throws himself into every game. It’s easy for an opener to come down the order and think, ‘It’s not my day.’ But batting at five, six or seven is high-risk, high-reward.

“How you manage the early part of your innings is key to setting up the rest of it.

“Even at the start of his innings, Jacks felt like he was scratching around a little bit. But sticking in there and building a solid start allowed him to kick on.

“Today, he didn’t come on to bowl as early as he would have liked because Rehan Ahmed took the ball first.

“He gets a huge amount of turn, and we even saw the couple of wides he bowled that he wasn’t happy with. He was trying to be as miserly as possible.

“It was a great day for him. He continues to grow into that role, which is really good because it’s a key role in ODI cricket.”

Watch the second one-day international of the three-match series between England and Sri Lanka live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 12pm on Thursday (first ball 12.30pm). Latest Sky Sports deals or stream with no contract on NOW.