The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Bairstow’s keeping the faith
Cricket: Wicketkeeper hoping to overcome finger fracture to stave off India
Jonny Bairstow is hoping he will be fit to bat for England as they try to defy history against India at Trent Bridge.
Wicketkeeper Bairstow suffered a “small fracture” to his left middle finger when he failed to gather a ball from James Anderson cleanly on day three of the third Test.
He was replaced behind the stumps by Jos Buttler while Virat Kohli (103), Cheteshwar Pujara (72) and Hardik Pandya (52no) were piling up 352 for seven declared to leave England facing a world record run chase of 521.
Alternatively, they need to bat out six sessions to stay 2-0 up with two to play – an unlikely task but more realistic in the knowledge Bairstow should be in the middle order.
After the hosts reached stumps on 23 for none, Bairstow said: “We are going to see how it is in the morning.
“It is a fracture, but it’s not displaced – and that is a big thing. We hope with a bit more ice overnight and some protection (it will help).”
Meanwhile, Bairstow is keeping the faith England can fare much better in their second innings than they did when losing all 10 wickets in one session first time round.
“(India) left the ball well, and we know if we are going to save or win this game that’s what we have to do. We know the challenge in front of us, and we know what we have to do to save or win this game.”
England assistant coach Paul Farbrace is calling on England’s senior players – including captain Joe Root and his predecessor Alastair Cook – to rise to the challenge.
“Having had such a poor performance, you would expect your batsmen to show some gumption and guts and get stuck in and show they are the best players,” he said.
“You’re looking for Cook, Root, (Ben) Stokes to get stuck in and show they are top quality players.
“We can defend (the players), and we can say we’ve got lots of good players, and players at different stages of their careers – but the key is showing you can do it in the middle.”
Cook and Keaton Jennings have made a start.
“They played well, but it’s about continuing that – everyone going in and playing their way and playing with good intent,” added Farbrace.
“Intent doesn’t just mean scoring quickly – it means defending well, leaving well, rotating strike.”
England have not helped themselves by dropping six catches. Farbrace said: “When bowlers are creating opportunities and catches are being dropped, that can be soul destroying.
“Nobody means to drop a catch, but we are shelling too many. There’s no hiding place. It’s not good enough.”
Pujara did fall to a slip catch, by Cook off Stokes. After returning to form, he said: “I was always confident. Although I didn’t score many runs in county cricket (for Yorkshire) I was playing on challenging pitches. I’m pleased to score those valuable runs for the team.”