Vince ‘could still have a fantastic international career’ says ex-England coach

Paul Farbrace feels England should have “been a bit more patient” with James Vince, claiming the 31-year-old could still “have a fantastic international career”

Former England assistant coach Paul Farbrace believes James Vince could still “have a fantastic international career”, despite his previous struggles in Test cricket.

Vince has had two stints in the England Test team, first playing seven Tests in the summer of 2016 against Sri Lanka and Pakistan where he scored 212 runs at an average of 19.27. He was then recalled for the 2017-18 Ashes series and began with a score of 83 in the first Test in Brisbane, which remains his highest score to date.

However, he was axed again after just six Tests, having made 336 runs at 30.54 and has not pulled on the whites for England ever since. Despite having a career record of 548 runs at just 24.90 in Test cricket, Farbrace believes England should have “been a bit more patient with him and stuck with him”.

Speaking to the Times , Farbrace, who was England’s assistant during both of Vince’s runs in the side, said: “I still think James Vince could have a fantastic international career. I genuinely do.

“I just wish we had been a bit more patient with him and stuck with him. We pick players for a reason, but we are very quick to pounce on them for the things they can’t do.”

Joe Root has come under-fire over his captaincy following England’s recent series defeat to the West Indies. The likes of Nasser Hussain, Michael Atherton and Michael Vaughan have all called for Root to step down, but there are a lack of genuine alternatives.

As a result, some have suggested England pick a specialist captain from county cricket and Vince, who has been Hampshire’s club captain since 2015, has been mooted as a potential option. Despite admitting he would take the job if it was offered, Vince has described the suggestion as “extremely out there”.

He told The Cricketer : “Of course [I would take it], if it did come up, but I know people are speculating and there are lots of ideas at the minute. For them to bring someone in who isn’t even in the squad or playing and then make him captain – I think that would be extremely out there.

“It’s not something I anticipate happening and Rooty obviously has said that he wants to do it and try and take the team forward. I don’t think there’s an obvious alternative.

“If he’s still happy to do it then I feel he’s still the right man for the job. It has not taken away from his own performances with the bat, if it had it might be a different story but if he wants to do it and he’s doing well with the bat then that seems a reasonably good option to carry on.”