JEEPERS KEEPERS
Buttler to fly home after first India Test Foakes to get chance but Jonny rested
England’s decision to give key players rest periods this year was thrown intoo question yesterday when it emerged that Jos Buttler will miss three Tests against India.
a 16-man squad was named for the first two of the four Tests, but it was revealed Buttler will only play in the opening game in Chennai next month before heading home.
That provides Ben Foakes with h an overdue chance to display his s wicketkeeping skills in three e Tests, but with Jonny Bairstow w also rested for the first two, England - are leaving themselves short t of cover in a position where they y have an abundance of riches.
Only the uncapped James s Bracey will be on hand to back k up Foakes with the gloves for the e second Test in Chennai, before e Bairstow along returns with Mark to the Wood subcontinent and id sam Curran, also rested.
To be fair, the selectors face an n unenviable juggling act as they y try to protect their best players rs during a year when they will play y 17 Tests and contest a Twenty20 0 World Cup while dealing with the e mental challenges of living in biosecure od. bubbles for weeks on end.
and they would not have to o come up with elaborate rest plans ns if England’s best cricketers took k a break during april and May’s s Indian Premier league. But the ECB seem to believe there is nothing they can do to stop contracted players cashing in there.
Yet the timing of Bairstow’s rest period, after his return to the Test team for the first time in a year with an important contribution to the first Test victory against sri lanka, does seem strange.
and it will be awkward for the selectors if, say, Bairstow makes a big century in today’s second Test at no 3, then jumps straight on a plane home while England head to Chennai.
‘I spoke at length to Jonny and he completely understands and endorses this,’ insisted national selector Ed smith yesterday. ‘Whenever you rest there’s a downside, because every player wants to play for England.
‘But it just felt the right time for Jonny to take his break now because he’s a key part of the white-ball set-up as we build towards the T20 World Cup in the autumn.’ at least England welcome back Ben stokes, Jofra archer and new father Rory Burns for the formidable b task that awaits them in India, while Ollie Pope will be added to the squad once he has recovered from shoulder surgery.
But it is England’s move to break up their red-ball visit to sri lanka and India this winter into three chunks of two Tests that will cause debate, particularly if they struggle against India.
‘The concept of a tour has to be modernised,’ said smith.
‘We need to be nimble and if we have to break up a tour so we can get people in and out for their own and England’s good, we’ll do it. This is a policy we really believe in and we’ve had incredible support from the players. If you keep everyone in a bubble for three months and expect them to play every game in every format, they won’t perform at their best.’ lsOMERsET’s
points penalty for the 2021 County Championship has been reduced by a third due to a change in the competition’s format. They will now begin the season on minus eight after an appeal. a 24-point punishment had been imposed over the ‘poor’ Taunton pitch for the 2019 title decider with Essex.