Injured Bairstow to play as batsman in Southampton
NOTTINGHAM: England’s batting has gone from bad to worse against India and coach Trevor Bayliss said wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow will be asked to play purely as a batsman in the fourth Test starting in Southampton next Thursday.
Bairstow suffered a fracture in his left middle-finger, and although it is not serious, he is likely to play with extra protection for the finger with Jos Buttler, who took over keeping at Trent Bridge, expected to continue and bat at No 7.
The plan is to push Bairstow, an aggressive batsman who has been in good touch in the series, a slot up to No 4, which will allow newcomer Ollie Pope to return to No 6, a position he bats for his county Surrey, after struggling at four.
Bairstow fractured his finger while collecting a James Anderson delivery that swung late after Cheteshwar Pujara had left it on Day 3 of the third Test, which India won by 203 runs. He came into bat the next evening, but was bowled first ball by Jasprit Bumrah.
“We have got to check with the medical guys in the next few days. They’re suggesting he may not be able to keep but might be able to bat. We’ll have to see how it responds,” Bayliss told British media after the match.
He said Bairstow will be asked to take up the challenging No 4 slot although he was not sure if the player would be happy. As keeper-batsman, Bairstow averages 42.33 in 40 Tests with all his five centuries coming while doing a dual role. In the other 17 as batsman, the average dips to 28.96, with five fifties and a best of 95.
TOUGH TO CONVINCE
“That’ll be the hard thing, trying to convince Jonny,” Bayliss said. “That will be a decision that is taken from the team point of view. He is a world-class batter, we know that. One of the difficult things might be convincing Jonny of that.
“If that was the way we went, it would certainly be a deep conversation. Jonny’s a reasonable bloke... we know he wants to keep, but there would be a lot of explaining and chatting.”
Former England ‘keeper and skipper, Alec Stewart did well with the bat when he gave up keeping. He averaged 34.92 in 82 Tests as keeper (6 100s) and 46.70 in 51 Tests purely as batsman (9 100s).
Bairstow will have to make a mental adjustment, and also tone down aggression to build the innings. The India pacers have exposed openers Alastair Cook and Keaton Jennings, making it tough for the middle-order batsmen.
England have called up James Vince as cover for Bairstow, and the Hampshire batsman will be playing at his home ground, Agean Bowl, if picked. He mostly bats at No 3.
Vince played all five Tests in the Ashes, but scored just two fifties in nine innings. He made another fifty in New Zealand but was left out.
England have the option of recalling spin-bowling allrounder Moeen Ali, who can bat from opening to No 8, and is in wicket-taking form as well.