England’s relief after Bairstow scare

SOME of England’s worst fears have been alleviated with keeper Jonny Bairstow escaping largely unscathed from a finger blow just a week out from the first Ashes Test.

Bairstow took a delivery on the bounce yesterday from paceman Chris Woakes in their tour match against a Cricket Australia XI in Townsville, and immediately showed signs of pain.

After kicking at the ground and wring- ing his left hand in pain, he was attended to by English medical staff after the next ball for a lengthy period and taken from the field.

However, he returned about an hour later with strapping on his middle finger, adding to bandaging already on the little finger. England officials insisted the problem was only a bruise and the 28-year-old had not suffered a dislocation, while teammates downplayed the situation at stumps.

“I don’t think we were ever too worried,” Woakes said.

“The guys didn’t seem overly worried about [it] which was good. The fact he came back out at the end of the day means that, fingers crossed, he’s OK.”

Bairstow’s position in the team adds crucial balance to England’s batting lineup, given he has averaged 39.77 in 45 Tests since debuting in 2012. The blow threatened to add to a horror opening fortnight for England, which had lost paceman Steve Finn for the tour with a knee injury.

Fellow quick Jake Ball (ankle) is racing the clock to be fit for the Gabba Test.