Jonny Bairstow has been backed to rediscover his form by England coach Brendon McCullum. Bairstow made 0 and 4 in the 434-run shellacking in Rajkot, continuing an awkward fourth tour of India in which is he averaging 17.00 from six innings.
Ben Stokes predicted big things for Jonny Bairstow at the start of the series. With Ben Foakes taking the gloves, the England captain believed a role exclusively as a batter could unlock a Bairstow purple patch akin to the summer of 2022 when he became the original Bazball poster boy. “We saw what we managed to get out of him, and I don’t want him to worry about anything other than batting at five, getting runs and what’s in front of him in the here and now,” Stokes said. It has not worked out as planned.
With England trailing 2-1 in the series there will be selection decisions to ponder ahead of the fourth Test in Ranchi, which begins on Friday, but McCullum gave a strong indication Bairstow will retain his place in the XI for what would be his 99th Test cap. Dan Lawrence is the only spare batter in the squad, having replaced Harry Brook who pulled out of the tour for a family matter and is unlikely to return. Lawrence, however, is yet to feature under McCullum and Stokes.
Jonny Bairstow career under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum
England want to give Jonny Bairstow every chance to access the explosiveness of two summers ago. He struck four centuries in Stokes’ first six matches, including twin hundreds in the one-off Test against India at Edgbaston. His 681 runs were scored at a rate of 96.59, and an average of 75.66.
He has struggled to match those numbers upon returning from a broken ankle that kept him out of the final Test against South Africa and the 2022-23 winter tours of Pakistan and New Zealand. Since the start of the 2023 summer, his 424 runs have come at 30.28, with just three fifties albeit one an unbeaten 99 against Australia at Old Trafford.
His first-innings duck at Rajkot was his eighth against India. But it is worth noting his dismissal second time around – lbw missing a sweep off Ravindra Jadeja – was the first time he has been out playing an attacking shot. Bairstow has scored only 102 runs in 3 test matches .
Jonny Bairstow’s poor outings in Asian conditions.
As per ESPNCricinfo, Asia is the only continent in which Bairstow averages fewer than 30 in Tests. He has managed just 1,015 runs across 19 games at a dismal average of 29.85.The veteran has crossed the 50-run mark only five times across 36 innings in the continent. The tally includes a ton as well, in Sri Lanka.
Bairstow has managed 126 runs across four Test innings in Bangladesh at 31.50 (50: 1).491 of his runs have come across 20 Test innings in India at 25.84 (50s: 3).He has featured in six innings in UAE, managing just 134 runs at 22.33.The dasher has fared decently in Sri Lanka, managing 264 runs across six innings at 52.80 (100: 1).
Bairstow has not crossed the 50-run mark in Asia since his 110 in the Colombo Test in November 2018.The batter has now gone 14 Test innings without a half-century in the continent. He has scored 269 runs in this period at a dismal average of 20.69.His 47 in the 2021 Galle Test is Bairstow’s only 40-plus score in Asia in this duration.
Having played 98 Tests, the 34-year-old Bairstow has compiled 5,906 runs at an average of 36.45. He has smashed 12 centuries and 26 fifties in this format. Against Australia, he has clocked 1,125 runs in 21 Tests at 31.25.Bairstow has registered two centuries and six fifties against them in Test cricket. He has raced to 2,307 runs in away Test matches at 33.92.
However though the England management and captain has supported Jonny Bairstow to come good in the remainder of the series, Former English skipper Alastair Cook has opined that the out of form Jonny Bairstow should be benched in the 4th Test at Ranchi.
Jonny Bairstow has had a tough tour so far- Alastair Cook
Former England captain Alastair Cook believes it is in the best interest of the visitors as well as Jonny Bairstow personally to not pick him in their XI for the fourth Test against India in Ranchi set to begin on Friday, February 23.
Bairstow has had a horrific tour so far with just 102 runs from six innings at a modest average of 17. Cook understands the pressure a visiting player faces on the Indian tour and feels a break could help Bairstow regain his confidence.
Speaking to TNT Sports, here’s what Alastair Cook had to say about Jonny Bairstow:
“He’s had a tough tour so far. And India is a very hard place to continue going on that treadmill. I’m taking Jonny out of the firing line, to protect the player.”
Cook suggested that England could look at someone like Dan Lawrence, who would be fresh to get going and could also add more muscle to their batting line-up.
Brendon McCullum in all support of Jonny Bairstow to come good
England head coach Brendon McCullum has hinted that Jonny Bairstow will be playing in Ranchi despite his poor form. McCullum wants to focus on the quality of the player and understands what Bairstow brings to the side.
Speaking to the reporters ahead of the Ranchi Test, McCullum stated:
“I’m not blind but he’s (Bairstow) done so well for us and he’s had such an impactful career. 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.”
McCullum also claimed that he would be having a chat with Jonny Bairstow and is hopeful that the pep talk will help the right-hander find his mojo. Ranchi could be Bairstow’s 99th Test match and he would be gunning to get a big score, something his team desperately needs with Joe Root also out of form.
Ben Stokes, England’s captain, has promised that his team will park the disappointment of their crushing 434-run loss in the third Test in Rajkot, and move onto Ranchi later this week fully focused on bouncing back to claim a 3-2 series victory. England need to win the last two Tests to clinch the series, with India leading the five-match series 2-1. It will be interesting to see if they make changes to their playing XI for the fourth Test against India, which will start on February 23 which could be the litmus test for Jonny Bairstow to perform in his 99th Test.