Bairstow hint dropped for Ashes as England look to solve Stokes "nightmare"

29 March 2023 , 14:28

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Jonny Bairstow has been out of action since September with an injury (Image: Stu Forster - ECB/ECB via Getty Images)

In a clear indication of how he fits into England's Ashes plans, Jonny Bairstow is reportedly set to keep wicket for Yorkshire when he returns from injury.

Bairstow has been out of action since September after suffering a freak leg break while playing golf, having been in the form of his life up until the injury. In six Tests, Bairstow smashed 681 runs at an average of 75.66 as England secured stunning wins over the likes of New Zealand, India and South Africa.

However, in his absence Harry Brook has made an outstanding start to his Test career, scoring 809 runs at 80.90 in six Test matches. As a result of Brook's impressive form, there have been questions over how Bairstow will slot into the side when he returns for the Ashes.

And it appears as though Ben Foakes' spot as wicketkeeper is under threat, with both the Daily Mail and the Telegraph reporting that Bairstow will take the gloves when he plays for Yorkshire ahead of the Ashes.

Both reports state that the ECB have made a request for Bairstow to keep wicket for Yorkshire in the County Championship, with the 33-year-old set to play two games against Glamorgan and Durham.

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Bairstow, whose late father David was also an England wicketkeeper, has remained keen on taking the gloves despite enjoying a stunning 2022 as a specialist batter. And it comes after England captain Ben Stokes admitted he was facing an "absolute selection nightmare" ahead of the Ashes.

Bairstow is set to keep wicket for Yorkshire when he returns from injury (Philip Brown/Popperfoto/Popperfoto via Getty Images)

When asked about the potential returns of Bairstow and fast bowlers Jofra Archer and Mark Wood last month, Stokes said: "It's great to have so many world class players to have to choose from.

"It's probably going to end up being an absolute selection nightmare at some point. But you'd much rather have that for myself as captain and for Baz as coach. It's a great thing to be thinking about going forward.

"The amount of world class players that we've got, not only here at the moment, but also sitting at home recovering from injuries or whatever it may be, getting the workloads up and stuff like that. I don't like to look too far ahead but I think it will be a good crop of players to choose from by the time we come to the Ashes."

Ben Foakes' place in the side looks to be under threat (Philip Brown/Popperfoto/Popperfoto via Getty Images)

And England legend Steve Harmison believes it will be tough on Foakes if he has to make way for Bairstow, describing him as "the only calming influence in that group". Speaking to OnlineCricketBetting, the 2005 Ashes winner said: "I think that's going to be an interesting one, definitely watch this space.

"One, if Jonny can do it, two, how he goes about getting runs as well as keeping wicket because if he does go and get two or three hundreds in the first few County Championship matches, England will have to pick him as a keeper.

"That leaves Foakes out who is probably the only calming influence in that group, other than Joe Root, and even he's been sweeping Tim Southee in the first over for four. Foakes is the only one that seems to be playing properly or playing with any calming influence on the top order of the bottom order. Who'd be a selector? I tried that one and it didn't work."

Matthew Cooper