England will wait for Tom Moores as Nottinghamshire youngster works his way from the back of the queue

SAM MORSHEAD IN DUBAI: The view up ahead is filled with proven stars of the international arena, deputies who in other eras may have already made several dozen appearances for their country, and a host of county peers

If the England wicketkeeper-batsman’s role was a theme park ride, the attendants would be discouraging thrill-seekers from joining the back of the line, but Tom Moores is prepared to wait it out.

The battle for the gloves, particularly in the white-ball arena, is incredibly fierce, with more than half-a-dozen players presenting themselves as credible candidates.

Moores has only just arrived in the queue, an England Lions call-up following on from a breakthrough campaign for Nottinghamshire in 2018, where he proved to be a highly competent replacement for Chris Read.

But the view up ahead is filled with proven stars of the international arena, deputies who in other eras might have already made several dozen appearances for their country, and a host of county peers each with legitimate claims to the throne.

Moores, who at 22 has only turned out 69 times in professional cricket, is pragmatic about the situation.

“I try not to worry too much about what other people are doing and just do my thing,” he tells The Cricketer.

^{Tom Moores enjoyed a breakthrough 2018}

“International recognition just happens, you can’t really force it. You’ve got a lot of keeper-batters around at the moment, and obviously two at the top in Jonny (Bairstow) and Jos (Buttler). They are world-class players.

“If my time comes then great, I’m ready. But I’m not really thinking about it.”

Moores is seven years Bairstow’s junior and six years younger than Buttler, so time may be on his side, but the Notts man still has plenty to prove, not least among his Trent Bridge team-mates.

Ben Duckett and Joe Clarke, talented batsmen who are more than capable with the gloves – a combination the England selectors struggle to resist, have joined the ranks at Nottinghamshire and will provide stiff competition for Moores on the domestic stage.

Elsewhere, Lancashire’s Alex Davies is only 24 and has established himself at Lions level, while Kent captain Sam Billings is rarely out of contention when the national squads are decided. In another timeline, too, there would surely have been at least a slither of a chance of England recognition for Ben Cox of Worcestershire and the ever-reliable Ben Brown at Sussex.

“You go through periods of having an overload of a certain position. Normally it’s borne out of a lack of that, or someone has inspired them,” Moores says.

Moores is out at the PSL with Multan Sultans

“I was inspired by Adam Gilchrist so I wanted to be Adam Gilchrist. Fast bowlers might say the same with someone like Brett Lee.

“It comes in waves and you get an influx in a certain position but at the moment it’s the era of the keeper-batter.

“There can be a load of everything but somebody’s going to have to be at the top at any given stage, and they’re going to have to stay there as well.

“I know sport changes very quickly and one minute you can find yourself at the top but the next… it change really, really quickly. I try to stay level-headed. I’ll bring my game and try to be the best version of myself I can be.”

“If that gets me selected, it gets me selected. If it doesn’t, I’m loving the journey I’m on and playing all around the world.”

The journey Moores describes is a jetsetting lifestyle which has seen him dart between the T10 League, a Lions tour of India and the upcoming Pakistan Super League over the winter months.

Right now he is in Dubai, preparing for Multan Sultans’ PSL campaign. It is here where The Cricketer, embedded in the Sultans’ camp for the week building up to their season opener on Friday, grabs a moment of his time.

Moores is not thinking too far ahead in his career

“It’s been busy but it’s great, playing high-level cricket is something I’ve always wanted to do,” he says.

“It sort of feels I’m jumping from one plane and one country to the next but it’s all part of the fun and I’m just loving the journey and loving growing and experiencing from different players.

“Obviously (the PSL) is a world-renowned tournament and this is one of the biggest franchises you can play in.

“You’re mixing with the best in the world, it’s an unbelievable experience.”

Among Moores’ team-mates at Multan are Shahid Afridi, Shoab Malik, Andre Russell and Mohammad Abbas. On Friday, should he play in the opening game against Karachi Kings, he could well end up facing Mohammad Amir.

“We’re very lucky to be playing in the generation we are. The way the game has developed and moved is a great era to be playing cricket,” he says, reflecting on the opportunities the global T20 revolution has afforded him.

“As a young cricketer there’s a lot out there to go and grab with both hands.

“It’s an exciting format and an entertaining business. I couldn’t imagine not being able to play in it.”