Bairstow: I’ll do whatever it takes to win Test recall
JONNY BAIRSTOW has vowed to do everything possible to regain his spot in the England Test team. Bairstow was dropped for the upcoming two-Test tour of New Zealand after an indifferent Ashes summer. The 30-year-old averaged just 23.77 during the five-Test series with a top score of 52 across 10 innings as England failed to regain the urn. Bairstow has played 48 of his 69 Tests as wicketkeeper, but with Jos Buttler set to take that role in New Zealand, the Yorkshireman isn’t focused on the gloves. ‘I just want to play in the team,’ he told Sportsmail. ‘I’ll do whatever it takes to be back in the team. It’s not the first time I’ve been dropped, so I’ll be going away, working on my game and trying to get back into the squad.’ Despite his Test omission, Bairstow was selected for England’s Twenty20 party who will face New Zealand in a five-match series. And the World Cup winner is looking forward to showcasing his skills in the hope of forcing his way back into the Test picture for England’s tour of South Africa, which begins in late December. ‘I enjoy my T20,’ he said. ‘New Zealand is an amazing place and I can’t wait to get back out there. Without a doubt, though, South Africa is my goal. It’s a fantastic place to play cricket and we want to get back over there. It’s an amazing country, an amazing place to play and I have some very fond memories over there.’