England will have to make do without the services of Jonny Bairstow in the opening Test against Sri Lanka at Galle after the wicketkeeper-batsman was ruled out with an ankle injury.
Bairstow had twisted his ankle while playing football in an England practice session during the preceding ODI series with his fitness for the Tests being monitored on a day-to-day basis.
With Bairstow now ruled out of the first Test which gets underway on Tuesday, England will have to decide between Jos Buttler and Ben Foakes for the wicketkeeping option.
“That decision could impact the rest of the team,” an undecided England coach Trevor Bayliss told the BBC.
The tourists had fielded three wicketkeepers in their first red-ball warm up game on the tour. With Bairstow unfit for the second warm-up game, Buttler and Foakes had shared wicketkeeping duties in Colombo.
The opening day of the second warm-up game was ultimately washed out by rain with only one day’s play being completely eventually.
Bayliss believes the lack of warm-up games could hamper his England team going into the three-match series.
“Any Test team around the world would love to have a minimum of two four day games to prepare for the first Test,” Bayliss said.
“The simple fact these days is there’s not enough time. Being physically and mentally fresh is just as important.”
The first Test at Galle will mark the swansong for Sri Lanka veteran spinner Rangana Herath who will hang up his cricketing boots upon completion of the game.
