Five star Bairstow carries on keeping

TOP FIVE: Bairstow

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JOHNNY Bairstow says it will be no problem to bat at number five and keep wicket for England.

The Yorkshireman will move up the order against Pakistan in the first Test at Lord’s next week.

That’s despite another keeper — Lancashire’s Jos Buttler — also being in the side.

He’s likely to come in at number seven as a batsman only while Bairstow does both roles.

That’s a real vote of confidence in Bairstow’s skill with the gloves after his ability behind the stumps was called into question during the early part of his career.

He said: “I’m very proud to be asked to move up the order as it means the people in charge have got the belief in you to go out and deliver.

“They are asking a little extra, they are saying ‘ we want you to do this, we trust you, we believe in you’ and that’s what you want within a team.

“You want the captain, coach and head selectors to back you.”

Middle

Bairstow has batted at five before but only lasted a couple of Tests last season before dropping down to seven.

He believes it won’t be a problem doing both jobs, as he’s long done it for his county.

Bairstow added: “It’s something I’ve done for Yorkshire for a while, and occasionally you are back in the middle after being in the field for a lot of overs, but you have to deal with it.

“That’s why we do all the physical preparation.

“In the past, whenever a challenge has been thrown down, I like to think I’ve stepped up and risen to those challenges and taken them in my stride.

“That’s exactly what I’ll be trying to do now, and I don’t think moving up will affect me in any way. I know I will relish it.”

Bairstow is happy to have competition for the keeper position — from Buttler and Warwickshire’s Ben Foakes who went on the last Ashes tour.

He added: “I’d like to think my keeping has gone from strength to strength, and that hard work doesn’t stop.

“If I drop a chance during a game I’m not going to be thinking ‘ oh, blooming heck.’”