Hussain: I wouldn't take Jennings on tour to Sri Lanka this winter

Former England skipper Nasser Hussain had previously supported the idea of giving the Lancashire opener an extended stay in the side but he has changed his mind on the evidence of two innings at the Oval

^{Keaton Jennnings has been struggling for runs}

Nasser Hussain thinks England should leave Keaton Jennings at home when they head off on tour to Sri Lanka this winter.

Jennings has struggled at the top of the order in the ongoing series against India but looks set to keep his place in the squad for the trip to the subcontinent.

Former England skipper Hussain had previously supported the idea of giving the Lancashire opener an extended stay in the side but he has changed his mind on the evidence of two innings at the Oval.

Jennings was caught at leg slip off Ravindra Jadeja in the first innings before being bowled by Mohammed Shami while shouldering arms second time around, leading Hussain to think his time should be up.

"If you’d asked me before this game whether I’d have taken Jennings to Sri Lanka, I’ve have said yes. But his two dismissals here at The Oval have – reluctantly – changed my mind," he wrote in his Daily Mail column.

^{Jennings should not go to Sri Lanka, according to Nasser Hussain}

"He’s supposed to be a good player of spin, which is why England are keen to take him on tour, but to get out caught at leg slip, more or less off the face of the bat, was a dozy piece of cricket.

"The bowler Ravindra Jadeja often gets players out that way with his left-arm spin, so it was careless of Jennings – almost as if he’d forgotten the man was there.

"Jennings has also dropped a few catches this summer, including an easy one at silly point that would have polished India off for 260. I prefer to give a guy one game too many rather than one too few, and it’s certainly true that life for left-handed openers has been tough in England over the past couple of years. But I wouldn’t take him to Sri Lanka.

"There are only so many opportunities being a good guy and a good team man – and supposedly a good player of spin – will buy you."

Hussain advocated the inclusion of Rory Burns, the Surrey batsman, in the squad and suggested that James Vince could be drafted in to open the innings.

"Sri Lanka will be a trial of spin from the start, so you pick your best six or seven batsmen against the turning ball," he wrote.