A young and emergent India are all set to face off against Ben Stokes-led England in the 4th Test match in Ranchi. The Rohit Sharma-led side will go into the match with the upper hand after winning back-to-back test matches in Vishakhapatnam and Rajkot while England had won the first Test in Hyderabad.
However, ahead of the crucial 4th Test match that starts from Friday onwards, English batter Jonny Bairstow has come under fire and it is expected that he may be replaced in the English squad with another stylish right hander in the form of Dan Lawrence. Another aspect favouring Lawrence is that he can also bowl a bit of off-spin.
Brendon McCullum on Jonny Bairstow’s selection in the side:
Speaking about Baristow’s inclusion in the English side, coach Brendon McCullum said (as quoted by Hindustan Times) , “I haven’t even seen the wicket. But I’d anticipate Jonny would be playing, yes. So from our point of view, we’ve got to keep on giving him confidence and block out a lot of the external noise as well and keep him really present and focused on what he’s trying to achieve, and I’m sure Jonny will come good. (I will) spend a bit of time with Jonny and remind him that he’s such a wonderful player.”
Alaistair Cook wants Jonny Bairstow to be removed from Playing XI:
Speaking to TNT Sports, former England skipper Alaistair Cook said, “I’m taking him out of the firing line to protect the player, as I think he’s had a tough tour so far and India is a tough place to keep going on the treadmill.”
The legendary batter added, “I’m not saying he’ll never play Test cricket again, but it’s good to have someone who’s fresh of all the debris of this series so far.”
Bairstow’s struggles in India:
Bairstow has struggled to find his way in the six innings so far, with a highest score of 37. The veteran right hander was dismissed for the 0 and 4 in the two innings of the last Test match in Rajkot.
However, it isn’t just Bairstow’s struggles in this Test series that have caught the eye of former cricketers and cricket fanatics around the world. In the 11 innings he has played so far in India, the right hander has an average of 25 whcih is significatly lower than his all time Test average of 36.
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Published: 22 Feb 2024, 10:52 AM IST