England’s Will Jacks still rebuilding bowling confidence after appendix surgery

Will Jacks admitted he is still rediscovering confidence in his bowling following his unexpected surgery last month despite a five-wicket haul lifting England to victory over Sri Lanka.

A trip to Scotland to mark his mother’s 60th birthday turned sour as Jacks was immediately hospitalised upon flying to Edinburgh after feeling unwell, and he had an appendectomy the following day.

“It was completely random and quite scary,” the 27-year-old all-rounder said. “I was really lucky to be looked after really well by the NHS. You are just at the beck and call of the surgery of how well it goes.

“You don’t know the recovery until after you wake up. I was just fingers crossed going in and luckily they were able to do a slight incision and not have to rip me open completely.”

Fitness

Jacks was left with three small scars to his lower abdomen and just four weeks to regain fitness for England’s white-ball programme against Sri Lanka at the back end of the summer.

The operation meant a gradual return to bowling off-spin and he acknowledged he was a “little under-cooked” when returning for the Lions earlier this month, while he was grateful the T20s were before the ODIs.

However, he demonstrated his worth to England with 46 not out in the first ODI at the Banks Homes Riverside before taking five for 22 to help the hosts grind out an 89-run win on Tuesday.

“It was more of a confidence thing,” Jacks said. “I have lost a lot of my core strength.

“If I am honest, I only bowled five days before the first T20 because I was building up my strength and trying to get some fitness back. Batting was easier to do first and we left bowling to the last thing.”

Jacks burst on to the scene as an explosive opener and part-time spinner but, under Harry Brook’s captaincy, he has been transitioned down the order and fulfilled more of an all-round brief than ever.

He has excelled this year and the trust England have in him was shown as he was appointed vice-captain for Sri Lanka’s white-ball visit, and Jacks revealed he is more at ease than ever in his role.

Captain

“My role in the team is something I am comfortable with,” he said. “I know how I am viewed by my captain and the other players.

“It is a luxury to know, say when we go to Headingley (for the second ODI), that I will be in the team. You can’t take that for granted and appreciate the hard work you have done to get there.”

With less than 48 hours between the first and second ODIs, England could switch up their pace options as Sonny Baker is waiting in the wings and Henry Crocombe is pushing for an international debut.

Jacks, meanwhile, is seeking to end the summer with a flourish. He has signed up for the SA20 in January and February, which could clash with England’s Test tour of Bangladesh.

Unused by the Test side this summer after featuring four times during last winter’s Ashes, Jacks’ improving off-spin could interest new Test head coach Stephen Fleming, especially in Asia.

“I don’t know about what would happen or if even they would want me,” Jacks added. “We will finish the summer before getting into the winter.”

READ MORE: Will Jacks powers England to opening ODI win over Sri Lanka