Keaton Jennings says it would be "fantastic" if he earned an England recall for the upcoming three Test series against Pakistan after enjoying a brilliant County Championship campaign for Lancashire this year.
Jennings, who played the most recent of his 17 Test matches in 2019, was the leading run scorer in Division One with 1,233 runs at an average of 72.52. He also struck five centuries, including a monster 318 against Somerset.
Although his Test record, 781 runs at 25.19 in 32 innings, is underwhelming, Jennings has impressed in the subcontinent. Both of his Test centuries have come in Asia and he has scored 440 runs at 44.44 in ten innings in India and Sri Lanka.
And Jennings hopes he will part of England's historic trip to Pakistan this winter, which will be the first time they have played Test cricket there in 17 years. Reflecting on his outstanding season with Lancashire, Jennings told the PA news agency: "This year was one of those years you'll look back on in retirement and realise how special it was.
"I did things this year I've never done before. I turned 30 this summer and I think age and maturity is a big factor.
"Between 28 and 35 is when you hit your peak as a batter – a lot of guys have scored a lot of runs in that period, it's the best time of a batter's life. You get to the point where with yourself as a human, you're happy with your game and you're more comfortable with the ebbs and flows of the game.
"I'd be naïve to say [England] hasn't crossed my mind, it would be fantastic if I did tour, but I can't do any more or any less to persuade them now. England selection is amazing, but it's something that's out of my control.
"What Ben Stokes and the rest of the squad have done incredibly well is back guys publicly, and that's absolutely fantastic. Once you've had a taste of that tough environment, positive or negative, you realise how hard it is.
"I would assume the same two guys [Alex Lees and Zak Crawley] would open the batting in the next Test match. Of course, for myself, it would be fantastic to play more, I'd love to.
"I probably struggled with that before, you want to do more, to ask 'how can I prove myself again?', but that's not when you're at your happiest or playing your best cricket. If that recognition comes for me, it's great, but if it doesn't I'm still very happy in my life."
