A BAIR NECESSITY
Importance of Jonny to plan pushes Foakes out
AS IF there was any doubt. England have rightly doubled down on their Bazball philosophy with a clear plan to hit Ireland and then Australia as hard as they possibly can and then some.
That is great news for the returning Jonny Bairstow, who was the catalyst for England’s incredible revolution under captain Ben Stokes and is now fit again after his broken leg.
But it is a blow for Ben Foakes, the man to make way simply because the finest gloveman in the game cannot dominate the bowling in the same way. With Harry Brook announcing himself to the world with four thrilling Test hundreds in his first six matches, it was clear three into two would not go.
With the Ashes just a few weeks away, Bairstow will take the gloves against Ireland at the start of next month in the hope he can reproduce more of the same barnstorming cricket that stunned New Zealand and India last summer.
England managing director of men’s cricket Rob Key said: “It is something we agonised over for quite some time because you’ve just got two very good cricketers.
“Ben Foakes has done everything asked of him and Jonny Bairstow was one of the best batsmen in the world last year, so how do you fit them both in?We couldn’t find a way to do that.
“Brendon McCullum [England Test head coach] was the one to ring him and tell him and he is pretty upset to have lost his place, but we will see more of Ben in the future. You never know what is going to happen in Test cricket.
“The way that Jonny played epitomises everything we’re about and you might not have had this success without him. Some of the innings that he played last year were extraordinary so the plan is for him to bat at seven and take the gloves and we’re pretty confident he can deliver.
“Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes have been able to get the best out of players and I expect them to do the same now.” There were huge votes of confidence for Ollie Pope, above, who was named vicecaptain to Stokes, and Zak Crawley, who continues to play despite a lack of headline numbers.
In the bowling department, James Anderson is available for selection against Ireland despite a mild groin strain but may make way for the recalled Chris Woakes to play his first Test at home for two years.
Either way, England will be ready with Stokes leading the charge at Lord’s on June 1.