Despite the accent, I feel English: Jennings

MUMBAI: Batsman Keaton Jennings was born and bred in South Africa and captained the Proteas under-19s but insisted on Tuesday ahead of his expected England debut that he feels “very English”.

The 24-year-old opener is tipped to make his international debut for his adopted country in England’s do-or-die fourth Test against India, which starts at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday.

The tall left-hander was a late call-up for England’s two remaining must-win matches after Haseeb Hameed injured his hand during the third Test and was ruled out of the rest of the series.

Jennings said joining up with his new teammates had been “surreal” but that he would relish the opportunity to open the batting with captain Alastair Cook this week if picked.

“At the moment I’m feeling very comfortable and very English, despite my accent,” he joked to reporters at a news conference following a training session in India’s financial capital.

Jennings, whose mother is English, was born in Johannesburg and went on to captain South Africa at under-19 level.

But after leaving school he moved to England in 2011, committing himself to four years there so he could become eligible to play for the national side.

“The opportunity, the professionalism, I don’t know if I can put my exact finger on it but there was a combination of feeling really welcome, feeling loved, feeling pushed as well,” he said of his decision to make himself available for England instead of South Africa.

His impressive scoring for Durham captured the attention of England’s selectors and Jennings, who owns a house in the northeast English town, says he feels very much settled in his new life.

England trail 2-0 in the five-match series and anything less than a victory would see India seal the rubber. Jennings, however, welcomes the pressure.

“I have always been taught that pressure is a privilege. “It’s the sort of a thing my dad tried to infuse into me as a kid,” said Jennings.