Jamie Smith will be world class, says Ian Bell

Jamie Smith will be a “world-class player for a long period of time”, according to former England international and Sri Lanka batting coach Ian Bell.

Smith, 24, made his maiden Test century on the third day of England’s series opener against Sri Lanka at Emirates Old Trafford.

Bell, who played 118 Tests, worked with Smith for England Lions and Birmingham Phoenix’s Hundred team.

“The small part I played in his development was watching a guy who worked extremely hard,” Bell said.

“I’m sure he’ll play a big part in this England team in all formats and for a long time.”

Smith, originally from Surrey, was handed the England gloves ahead of county team-mate Ben Foakes and Yorkshire-born Jonny Bairstow for the series against the West Indies earlier this summer.

He missed out on a maiden century in the third Test against the Windies, making 95 at Edgbaston, but made no mistake with 111 in Manchester on Friday.

Overall, he is only the third England player to have three scores above 70 in his first five Test innings and his 318 runs after five overs are the second most of any wicket-keeper in Test cricket history.

And Bell, 42, whose 7,727 runs put him ninth on the all-time list of England’s leading Test batsmen, said he was “not at all” surprised by Smith’s departure at the top level of the game.

“He’s going to be a world-class player for England for a long time,” said the former Warwickshire player. “He’s confident and he’s adapted easily to international cricket.”