Cricket: Number one choice injured playing football ahead of Galle Test

Jos Buttler is being primed to keep wicket in England’s first Test against Sri Lanka, with Jonny Bairstow’s fitness being monitored “day by day”.

Bairstow suffered ligament damage in his right ankle while playing football and looks increasingly likely to miss the Galle Test, which starts next Tuesday.

White-ball keeper Buttler has been doing the job throughout the limitedovers leg of the tour and will continue behind the stumps when England begin the first of two twoday warm-ups in Colombo tomorrow.

“It’s day by day with Jonny at the minute,” England captain Joe Root told Test Match Special.

“He’s actually made good strides in the last week or so and he’s recovered a little bit quicker than we anticipated.

Asked if the odds were against Bairstow, Root added: “We’ll have to wait and see.

“I think so but we’re very fortunate to have a lot of resources in that department.

“There’s still a long way to go, we’re a long way out from the first Test and it’s a big three-match series so we’ve got to weigh that up before the first game.”

Ben Foakes has added to that strength in depth,

“He’s recovered a little bit quicker than we anticipated”

having arrived on the island on Sunday as specialist cover.

The Surrey man is regarded as the best pure wicketkeeper in county cricket and could come into consideration for a Test debut if England feel the spinning surface in Galle demands his expertise.

“Jonny would be a big loss but we have great players to come in and rebalance the team,” said Root.

“(Buttler keeping) is probably the likely scenario but the reason we called Ben up is he is a high quality keeper and gives us another way to balance the side. It’s a nice position to be in.”

The selection of a final XI is likely to be the cause of much discussion in the coming days, with two of Rory Burns, Keaton Jennings and Joe Denly to form the first opening partnership since Alastair Cook’s retirement.