JONNY CAN LY BELIEVE IT

Fit-again star is left out

JONNY BAIRSTOW has plenty to ponder after being left out of an England Test team for the first time in more than three years.

Bairstow missed England’s 211-run victory against Sri Lanka last week with an ankle injury picked up playing football.

The normally first-choice wicketkeeper has now been overlooked in favour of Ben Foakes for the second Test, which started this morning.

Bairstow has been in the side since 2015 when he took the gloves from

Jos Buttler. But that has changed after Foakes’ man-of-the-match debut in Galle last week.

“Jonny was available for selection,” said captain Joe

Root. “He understands the situation and is aware that we have to pick the side best suited to conditions we can expect in Kandy.

“It is unfortunate that he missed out through injury in the first Test.

“He is an integral part of our plans and is a key member of our core squad and his experience around the group is important.”

Ollie Pope says Foakes’ fine debut has inspired him to believe he can do the same.

Foakes (inset) scored a maiden century before showing off his silky glovework, while Pope was busy ferrying drinks and watching from the sidelines.

With fellow Surrey starlet Sam Curran also playing his part in the win, Pope believes it will not be long before he and Surrey’s Rory Burns are playing leading roles too for England. “It is no coincidence from DEAN WILSON in KANDY

to see Sam and Ben do so well,” said Pope. “For me, to see guys that I’ve done well with as team-mates at Surrey go and do that, I think there is no reason why I can’t come in and dominate it as well whenever I get my chance.

“They’ve shown the way and it would be brilliant to follow suit at some point. “Hopefully the same can happen for Burnsy. You never know, he might get a ton in the next game.

“Foakesy is a guy who couldn’t deserve it more.

“I’ve watched him train since I signed for Surrey and the way he goes about his cricket, whether it is keeping or batting, he leaves no stone unturned.

“He is the ultimate professional cricketer and so to see him come in and score that hundred is a massive pat on the back for him. “It also says a lot about his temperament and how calm he was from ball one really. “The way Sam has gone about his stuff too has been phenomenal, and cricket is a game where if you get in a run of good form, then things can go very well.”

As one of four young Surrey players on the tour, Pope is the only one who will not play in the Test series.

He will join the Lions in the UAE for some game time.

But at 20, he knows there is plenty of time for him to force his way back into the England reckoning after a whirlwind 12 months that included a Test debut and County Championship win.