Bairstow solidifies place as England’s No 1 wicketkeeper

Fine display of leg-side catches have ended any competition posed by Foakes, writes Nick Hoult

Two diving catches down the leg side in this series by Jonny Bairstow have at least closed the debate on one issue ahead of the Ashes tour this winter. Bairstow has consolidated his place as England’s No1 wicketkeeper in the Test side and any notion that Ben Foakes could be given a game this summer as part of his development has faded away to nothing.

There was a theory that Foakes could play against West Indies in the second Test series to give him some exposure before going to Australia as Bairstow’s understudy with a view to taking over from him so the Yorkshireman could concentrate on batting.

England’s desire to pick Foakes is understandable. He has been described as the best wicketkeeper in the world by Alec Stewart. Yes, Stewart is his county director of cricket at Surrey but he is not one for sweeping statements, Andy Flower even less so. However, after Foakes’ 10 dismissals in a Lions Test against Sri Lanka in the winter, Flower praised an ‘artist’ behind the stumps.

Foakes will now have to learn the art of patience. Australia will be a good start. It would be unfair to drag Jos Buttler around Australia for two months if he is not going to play. Better to let him rest and come back for the one-day leg and give Foakes the chance to learn about what life is like on a full tour.

He will be watching a confident and relaxed Bairstow who is now certain of his place and role in the team. At Lord’s his keeping was immaculate on a pitch with variable bounce and turn later on. His catch down the leg side off James Anderson to dismiss Heino Kuhne was one of the best of his career, but was matched here for athleticism with another diving grab to his left when Faf du Plessis feathered a catch off Stuart Broad.

It is a far cry from when Bairstow ended his previous series against South Africa. In Cape Town 18 months ago he sealed his place as a batsman with a brilliant 150 that kick-started a year with the bat which saw him rewrite records set by the great keeper-batsmen.

But he missed chances in every Test match and the series ended with him seeking out Mark Boucher for advice. He told him he had to toughen up mentally and develop a thicker skin. “Thickskinned can mean many things,” said Bairstow last night. “You can be stubborn but also you have to be more receptive to information individuals are giving you. It is important you take in relevant information but at the same time you have to be good at sifting it. Lot of people give you advice but it is about learning to listen to the right people.”

Bairstow was kept on after that South Africa series for the onedayers mainly so he could work on his keeping with Paul Farbrace, the assistant coach and former wicketkeeper. Farbrace arranged for him to work with goalkeeping coaches at Newcastle United partly to improve his footwork but also to hear a different voice. But it has been the support of Bruce French that has helped Bairstow lift his standard to the point now where his keeping is only noticed for its excellence. The breakthrough was the Pakistan series last summer. Since then he has barely put a foot or glove wrong.

This summer French has worked with Bairstow on his footwork. He has tried to stay lower in his stance which is helping him fly across quicker to those wider catches. But French also works on mindset, particularly keeping relaxed. “If you start to think ‘am I going to catch this?’, it can cause tension, and that’s when you drop the ball,” says French.

The tension has gone out of Bairstow’s keeping. He now trusts his instincts. “I’ve been working hard but in many ways it is a case of not over-complicating things. It is going into something fresh, enjoying yourself and being excited by the challenge,” he said.