Rob Key leaves door open for Phil Salt to become England's Test wicket-keeper - 'No-one will be ruled out'

Managing Director Rob Key has refused to rule out a change of wicket-keeper when England's Test team return to action this summer.

Ben Foakes took the gloves for the winter tour of India, which Ben Stokes' side lost 4-1.

However, the 31-year-old failed to register a single half-century across 10 innings, while he has not played a home Test match since September 2022.

That has led to widespread speculation that a change may be made this summer, when Sri Lanka and West Indies head to the UK.

Jonny Bairstow, who played as a specialist batter in India, and the uncapped Phil Salt appear to be the leading candidates to replace Foakes.

Neither have played any red ball cricket this season due to their involvement in the Indian Premier League, but Key insists that is not an issue.

“The decision on who keeps in the Test team won’t be on if someone has played Championship cricket or not,” he told BBC Sport.

“We will think about who is the best person to do the job for the role that we require and that’s how we will make the decision. No-one will be ruled out."

Salt, who plays his county cricket for Lancashire, averages a shade over 33 in first clash cricket, scoring six centuries in 85 innings.

He has been around the international scene for a couple of years, but truly rose to prominence when England toured the West Indies at the back end of 2023, blasting a back-to-back centuries in a five-match T20 series.

The 27-year-old has also starred at the ongoing IPL, registering four 50+ scores for Kolkata Knight Riders.

He came up against Bairstow on Friday, when the Yorkshireman blitzed a 48-ball 108, a timely reminder of his abilities having not scored an international century since 2022.

The pair have both been named in England's provisional squad for the T20 World Cup, which takes place in the West Indies and the United States in June.

Jos Buttler's side will be looking to defend the crown they famously won in Australia in 2022, when Stokes guided the side to a five-wicket win over Pakistan at the MCG.

Their first match at this year's tournament will be against Scotland in Barbados on June 4.

With the introduction of a 60-second stop-clock between overs to speed the game up, there had been some speculation that Salt or Bairstow might keep wicket instead of skipper Buttler.

Key, though, says that will not be the case, adding: “He captains very well with the gloves. He’s the heartbeat of the team and the focal point for everyone.”

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