Follow UsEngland’s wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith feels opening the innings in the three-match One-Day International (ODI) series against West Indies has helped him prepare for the upcoming five-match Test series against India, starting on June 20.
England won all three ODIs against West Indies, with Smith slamming 101 runs at an average of 33.66 and a strike rate of 180.35.
"There's an opportunity there to go and play, and experience opening when the ball is still swinging and nipping around against quality bowlers," Smith said.
"It's definitely great practice (for the India series). It feels like we're close to it now, we're almost there. It's been great playing these three games and obviously the Zimbabwe Test leading up to it."
Smith, who has 641 runs in 10 Tests at an average of 42.73, is also looking forward to the challenge of facing Jasprit Bumrah during the series. "Hopefully, down at No. 7, I can watch other lads go and face him first. He is certainly a challenge there."
After five Tests against India, England will travel to Australia for the five-match Ashes series. "We're playing the two best nations. It's always going to be talked about, and the key for us and the group that we have at the moment is we're focusing on one game at a time.
"Everyone knows the magnitude of what you've got coming up, but if we can try and stay in the present then it's a good time to test ourselves against the best. We feel in a really good place, and I think everyone's really excited and in a great place to go and attack them."