Bairstow's wicket-keeping future and No3 position still a concern for England

David Clough 23:21 03/09/2018
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  • England's Jonny Bairstow (l) with current keeper Jos Buttler.

    England may know Alastair Cook is about to play his final Test at The Oval, but little else appears certain about their immediate or longer-term future.

    Coach Trevor Bayliss admitted, in the aftermath of the series-sealing 60-run win over Test cricket’s number one team India in Southampton, that he did not know as yet whether captain Joe Root will again choose to drop down from number three to his favoured number four position.

    The Yorkshireman did that, unannounced, to relatively successful effect in England’s second innings on day three at the Ageas Bowl – where Moeen Ali was chosen to move up from number seven in his place.

    As England seek to close out a resounding 4-1 – rather than scratchy 3-2 – series win to finish their campaign, there are other pressing issues too.

    They could do with identifying a successor to the retiring Cook as soon as possible with an autumn Test series in Sri Lanka already looming – and it would be handy too to know whether Jonny Bairstow will again be relieved of the wicketkeeping gloves by Jos Buttler, as he was because of his broken finger in Southampton.

    Answers to some of those unknowns may be answered when England name their squad on Tuesday for the fifth and final Test. The Bairstow question is potentially vexing.

    Relegated, in his own eyes, to the role of specialist batsman only, he could muster only six runs in two innings – including his second golden duck in three attempts, clean-bowled both times.

    “He is very keen to keep,” said Bayliss, who clarified even Bairstow realised his finger injury would not allow him to do so on the south coast. “He tried it before the match started, but he admitted it was not right to keep.

    “He is one of our better batters, so he was always going to play as a bat if he wasn’t keeping as well – but going forward he wants to keep.”

    There were those who perceived an awkward reaction by Bairstow to losing the gloves – one which may yet be more of a concern if England make the arrangement permanent.

    “How (he reacts) to that is for Jonny if it happens down the line,” added Bayliss. “That is the challenge for us, and challenge for anyone who gets one of those strings taken away.”

    Moeen did not shirk his when asked to bat at number three, and the indications are that the all-rounder may well be asked to do so again soon enough.

    “I hope we can find someone who can do a decent job at number three, and (Joe) can bat where he feels most comfortable,” added Bayliss, who believes the adaptable Moeen may fit the bill.

    “In the right conditions, I would not put it past him. When Rooty asked him if he was keen to do it, he jumped at it.

    “His challenge will be on the faster wickets … (but) we haven’t got any of those for a while.”

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