West Indies vs England: Alastair Cook backs Joe Denly to shine after 'brave' move to axe Keaton Jennings

Opportunity: Joe Denly will make his England Test debut in Antigua
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Will Macpherson31 January 2019

Alastair Cook described England's decision to jettison his final Test opening partner Keaton Jennings for the second time for Thursday's Second Test in Antigua as “brave”.

Jennings has played 16 Tests and, in the 11 outside Asia, has failed to reach 50.

While he has scored two excellent centuries in Asia (one on debut), he has displayed glaring technical deficiencies against pace bowling and, with the series on the line, England have dropped him for Joe Denly, the Kent batsman.

Jennings was axed for similar reasons in the summer of 2017 and England skipper Joe Root on Wednesday insisted that he could fight his way back into the Test side.

To do so before this summer’s Ashes looks a tall order.

Denly, at 32 the oldest specialist batsman to debut for England in 24 years, has two Tests in the Caribbean to make his claim.

Cook, in Antigua covering the series for the BBC, was not surprised by the decision. “It’s a very big decision. It’s a brave decision.

"But it’s not surprising in some ways because Ed Smith has made those decisions before,” said Cook on the TMS podcast.

“What an opportunity for Joe Denly. He’s been batting 3 or 4 for Kent but he is an opener and he has opened a lot. He is a very good player of fast bowling because he has time.

"I wonder if the step up in pace from county cricket might help his game. The Ashes is still seven months away so a lot can happen.

“Jonathan Trott came in and did well in a big Test match [against Australia in 2009] when we had to win a game and he got 100 — you have to deal with what’s in front of you.”

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