Jamie Smith will be a “world-class player over 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 the Sri Lankans at Emirates Old Trafford.
Bell, who played 118 Tests, has worked with Smith for England Lions and Hundred side Birmingham Phoenix.
“The small part that I played in his development, I’ve watched a guy who’s worked extremely hard,” said Bell.
“I’m sure he’s going to be a massive part of this England team in all formats over a long time.”
Surrey’s Smith was given the gloves by England ahead of county team-mate Ben Foakes and Yorkshire’s Jonny Bairstow for the series against 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 in excess of 70 in their first five Test innings and his 318 runs after five knocks is the second-most of any wicketkeeper in the history of Test cricket.
And 42-year-old Bell, whose 7,727 runs has him ninth on the all-time list of England Test batters, said he was “not at all” surprised by the start Smith has made in the highest level of the game.
“He’s going to be a world-class player for England over a long period of time,” said the former Warwickshire man. “He’s confident, and he’s taken to international cricket with ease.”