DOM SIBLEY should be given another chance to prove himself as Englands Test opener on the tour of South Africa.
That is the view of batting coach Graham Thorpe, who says Sibley impressed in many ways in New Zealand despite struggling for runs.
The Warwickshire batsman hit his first delivery for four but managed scores of just 22, 12 and 4 in his three innings.
His technique looked suspect because of an open stance and tendency to play to the legside.
Sibley also had a brief, torrid time facing spinner Mitchell Santner in the First Test defeat.
But Thorpe will recommend he remains England opener alongside Rory Burns for the start of the four-Test series against the Proteas, which begins on December 26.
Thorpe said: The selection meeting is on Saturday and Sibley and the other young batsmen will be in the mix.
Im not on the selection panel but theyve handled and acquitted themselves well in the way theyve gone about their business.
Sibley, 24, was chosen after facing a 1,000 balls more than anybody else in the county championship last summer.
BAT LONG
He fitted the new England plan of trying to bat for long periods but his returns were disappointing and England are also keen for him to lose some weight and improve his fitness.
But the commitment of Sibley and the two other young batsmen Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope brought compliments from Thorpe.
Thorpe, who took charge at the end of the tour because head coach Chris Silverwood flew home two days early to attend his father-in-laws funeral, added: When guys play a couple of matches, youre looking to see how they handle it.
For sure, Dom would have liked more runs. But I thought all the young batters Crawley, Sibley and Pope went about their business well in training.
Test cricket is a different environment and were trying to identify players who have the temperament to do well.
So with Dom, people will see how many balls he faced during the summer. Thats something you look at and think, Yeah, he could have the temperament to do it.
Captain Joe Root has returned to the top ten of the ICC Test batting rankings after his 226 in the drawn Second Test.
Root dropped out for the first time since August 2014 a week ago after scores of two and 11 in the First Test defeat.
Burns has climbed to 36th and is now the fourth-highest England player, while Chris Woakes has moved into the top ten of the all-rounder category.
At the top of the batting rankings, Virat Kohli reclaimed the No1 spot from Aussie Steve Smith after the India captains recent century against Bangladesh.
