I WANT TO ARMS FOR THE ASHES

BAIR Bairstow hopes to bat at No.3 against the Aussies after finding big-hitting form in the ODIS

JONNY BAIRSTOW is knocking it out of the park in one-day cricket for England – and he wants another chance to nail down the No.3 spot before the Ashes next winter.

Teeing off merrily, Bairstow and Jason Roy’s 12th century-opening stand should have laid the foundation for England to go 1-0 up in the limitedovers series with India on Tuesday, before they collapsed from 135-0 to 251 all out.

But after scores of 0, 0, 28 and 0 in the Test series, he will need the rub of the green more than a rub of Australian sandpaper to save his place over the long course.

Bairstow did not deserve to be singled out for scorn after England’s heavy defeats in Ahmedabad where, as he observed, “There wasn’t anyone in those last two games who exactly lit it up, was there?”

And he is keen for a happier ending in Oz than England’s 4-0 defeat in 2017-18, where he was subjected to sledging – still the Aussies’ No.1 national sport – of questionable taste.

Bairstow said: “Obviously people would have spoken about the last two Tests here, but prior to that in Sri Lanka, to score the runs at No.3 previously for England, I’ve been pretty happy. Hopefully I do get more than four games there because I’d gone home in between and, despite those lower scores in the last couple of Tests, average-wise I was still OK.

“I’ve had a pink-ball Test match at a new venue where nobody scored runs, and then the last game there was an umpire’s call decision that didn’t necessarily go my way in the first innings.

“I’m happy with where my game’s at and the way I’m striking the ball, so I hope I get another opportunity batting at No.3.

“With the experiences I’ve had in Australia, I think it gives you a better chance of having success there.”

While his Test place is in considerable doubt, there are no such worries for Bairstow at the top of the pile in the limited-overs side.

Since England held their nerve in the win-or-bust World Cup tie against India in 2019, he has clubbed three centuries plus 94, 84 and 82 in the last 13 one-day internationals.

■ SAM BILLINGS, who sprained a collarbone joint in the field during Tuesday’s defeat, is understood to be out of tomorrow’s second one-dayer. ■ ENGLAND have agreed to an expanded tour of the Caribbean next year – to thank West Indies for saving last summer’s schedule. Lord’s have added a third Test to the proposed two-match series and increased the T20 leg from three matches to five.