Keeping options open

Russell: Foster fan

Hopefully Prior's keeping will be up to standard; he's a good keeper, he can do the job. He's not in Foster's class but he's a frontline batsman.

Jack Russell
Quotes of the week

Working Space
7.55pm, Thur, Sky Arts 1 and Sky Arts 1 HD

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• The heat of battle

Former England wicketkeeper Jack Russell says James Foster should be the man behind the stumps in this summer's Ashes.

Russell, who now works as an artist, is currently painting five past Ashes scenes onto special Sky HD boxes which will then be auctioned to raise money for charity.

And he believes Essex's Foster, who stumped India's Yuvraj Singh and West Indian Dwayne Bravo in impressive fashion during the recent World Twenty20 tournament, deserves a chance to help England regain the famous urn.

"The best wicketkeeper at the moment is Foster," said Russell, who pouched 153 catches and took 12 stumpings in 54 Tests for England.

"He has been the best keeper for two or three years now. I'm pleased he has got into the Twenty20 team. I think he showed in a couple of those games what an important position it is."

Gamble

Matt Prior will be confirmed as England's wicketkeeper of choice for Test cricket when the selectors announce their squad for the first Ashes Test on Sunday but even though the Sussex stopper has two Test tons to his name, Russell thinks his inclusion is a risk.

"I would always play the best 'keeper; there's no two ways about it because you need to get Ricky Ponting out, you need to get (Mike) Hussey out. You need to get the best players out," said Russell.

"Taking your chances is absolutely critical. If you want to take 20 wickets, which is what you need to do to win a Test match, chances have got to be taken.

"Foster is a good bat - I'm not sure whether he's good enough to bat at number six and that's where Matt Prior may have the edge.

"Prior will help to balance the team in terms of the batting department; that may sway things in his favour. Foster is certainly the best keeper but England may gamble a bit.

"Hopefully his (Prior's) keeping will be up to standard; he's a good keeper, he can do the job. He's not in Foster's class but he's a frontline batsman."

There's more on Jack Russell's specialist cricket art in a programme called Working Space on Thursday on Sky Arts 1 and Sky Arts 1 HD at 7.55pm.

This summer's Ashes will be the sixth series to be screened by Sky Sports and as well as offering unrivalled coverage it will be the first Ashes ever screened in HD.