Stewart names world's best 'keeper

England legend Alec Stewart has made a bold declaration, anointing a Surrey wicketkeeper who’s never played international cricket as the best pure gloveman on the planet.

Ben Foakes, a 24-year-old who’s played two seasons at the London-club where Stewart is director of cricket, had the honour bestowed upon him on Wednesday by the 133-Test veteran.

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"I've got to be careful not to be biased when it comes to Foakesy, because I reckon he's the best wicketkeeper in the world," Stewart, who sits third on England’s all-time Test run-scoring and dismissals lists, told ESPN.

"When he's batting, he's Test-match quality, but he's got a very good cricketer ahead of him in Jonny Bairstow. 

“So while Jonny is doing as well as he's doing - and Jos Buttler at the moment is his No. 2 - he's got to fight his way, but if you asked me purely on glovework, he's the best there is."

Since leaving Essex where he was stuck behind another former England Test wicketkeeper in James Foster, Foakes has forged a reputation as one of the best pure glovemen on the domestic circuit.

He completed 46 dismissals for Surrey in 15 County Championship matches last season – the second highest tally in Division One – while also racking up 759 runs at 42.16.

While he’s yet to make his international debut, Foakes has played 19 games for the England Lions in all formats and impressed on their recent tour of Sri Lanka.

And although Stewart says his protégé may not be in the same class as the likes of former Australia ‘keeper Ian Healy just yet, he believes Foakes’ work behind the pegs is without peer among current players.

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"Speak to Andy Flower and the Lions coaches, they said he was outstanding (in Sri Lanka) and going from strength to strength,” the 53-year-old said.

"He's got the potential to get up to the level of (English wicketkeeping greats Jack) Russell and (Alan) Knott.

"When I say he's the best in the world, I mean I haven't seen any better. I'm not saying he's in Jack's class or Alan Knott's class, or Ian Healy's class. 

“But of those currently playing, of what I've seen, I haven't seen anyone better."

Despite his plaudits and good form for England’s ‘A’ side, Foakes faces a difficult task to break into England’s side in any format.

Incumbent wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow completed statistically the most prolific year by a gloveman in Test history in 2016, breaking the all-time records for both dismissals and most runs scored by a wicketkeeper in a calendar year.

Jos Buttler, the man Bairstow displaced in the whites, played the last three Tests on England’s tour of India as a specialist batsman and currently takes the gloves in their one-day and T20 International sides. 

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“He knows it's his job to keep developing, plus there's Bairstow and Buttler in the way,” Stewart said.

"Wicketkeepers have to be allrounders these days, and Foakesy fits into that, he could bat anywhere in the top seven

“But for wicketkeeping (alone), he's as good as there is."