BAIRSTOW IS FALL GUY YET AGAIN

Jonny faces the chop as Buttler nabs gloves, with Pope at No 5

Joe Root yesterday snatched back the keeping gloves Jonny Bairstow had been so delighted to reclaim at the oval and is set to heap further misery on him today by taking his bat away, too.

the england captain welcomed back, with almost indecent haste, his vice-captain and trusted lieutenant Jos Buttler after just a solitary test away on paternity leave, and insisted he would keep wicket in tomorrow’s final test against India.

that not only denies Bairstow a run of games in the dual position where he has produced his best in test cricket but leaves his place as a batsman in jeopardy, with ollie Pope favourite to pip him at No5 at old trafford.

It seemed Buttler’s red-ball future was in doubt when he missed the defeat by India at the oval to be at the birth of his daughter Margot, particularly as he is the only england player so far to voice serious concerns in the camp about going to the Ashes.

He averaged just 14 in the first three tests with a highest score of 25 and, despite an impressive series against Pakistan last year, has still to replicate his rare white-ball ability in a test career stretching to 53 games.

But Root (right) leans heavily on Buttler’s tactical acumen and, particularly in the ongoing absence of Ben Stokes, he is a respected and influential figure in the england dressing room. ‘Jos is the vice-captain of this team, a senior player and integral to what we are about,’ said Root yesterday.

‘I know his output in terms of runs in this series is not as high as he would like, but we know what a great player he is and how important he can be in turning a test.’

That will be of little consolation to Bairstow, who has been messed around more than most england players. ‘Jonny knew exactly what the scenario was when he was given that opportunity to keep wicket last week,’ said a captain in desperate need of a serieslevelling victory.

‘Sometimes you have to deal with things you don’t necessarily agree with but I don’t think that’s the case with Jonny. He has been a big part of the squad.’

Root’s next big call is whether to reshuffle his tired bowling pack, with Jack Leach under consideration for his first test of the summer to provide a spin option alongside Moeen Ali on what looked a dry old trafford pitch yesterday, and Mark Wood expected to return. It would be a surprise if Jimmy Anderson misses out, particularly as there is no old trafford test next year and this could be his last chance to bowl from the end that bears his name at his home ground. So Craig overton and perhaps even ollie Robinson, whose pace was down at the oval, could miss out.

‘It’s something we will weigh up,’ said Root. ‘the days between tests are really important to recovery for our bowlers and you have to trust medical advice as well as talk to players who know their own bodies.

‘there are a number of things to factor in and we will make sure we are confident everyone we pick is fit and can put in a test-worthy performance.’

this may be a huge game for england, who face the prospect of a second home test series defeat in one summer for the first time since 1986, but thoughts at old trafford yesterday again focused on an absent friend.

england will today name a twenty20 World Cup squad without Stokes — tymal Mills could be the surprise inclusion after a four-year absence — and it is looking increasingly likely their talisman will miss the Ashes, too.

‘It is not a conversation I’m willing to have with Ben,’ said Root when asked if Stokes, who is concentrating on mental health issues and the recovery of a broken finger, would be available this winter. ‘Ben will tell us when he’s ready and that should be respected by everyone.

‘He has to make sure he is happy with where he is before he even considers playing cricket again. I just want him to get himself back to where he used to be.’

Root also confirmed Sportsmail’s story that england are becoming frustrated over a lack of information about the quarantine and biosecure bubble conditions they face in Australia.

‘everyone wants to know what’s going on,’ he added.