Former England cricketer Michael Vaughan has shared his thoughts on Jonny Bairstow ahead of Bairstow’s 100th Test, which he will play against India in Dharamsala next week. While Michael Vaughan acknowledged the milestone as a sensational achievement, he expressed uncertainty about Bairstow’s future in Test cricket after the India tour.
Jonny Bairstow is set to become the 17th English cricketer to reach a century of Test matches when he plays in Dharamsala. However, his performance in the four Tests against India has been below par, with only 170 runs scored in eight innings at an average of 21.25 and a highest score of 38.
It’s a great triumph of resilience- Michael Vaughan on Jonny Bairstow
In his column for The Telegraph, Michael Vaughan highlighted that Jonny Bairstow’s upcoming 100th Test will be a special occasion. However, Vaughan also pointed out that Bairstow’s performance in the series so far has not met expectations.
“Jonny Bairstow plays his 100th Test in Dharamsala and I am delighted about that. It’s a great triumph of resilience and, even in terms of sentiment, I believe that if you get to 99 caps you deserve the moment of your 100th. However, you can’t escape that he could miss out on his 101st. He hasn’t played well enough across the 10 Tests he’s been back in the side, especially in India,” Michael Vaughan wrote.
He struggles kicking on with the tail- Michael Vaughan on Ben Foakes
The 48-year-old noted that Ben Foakes stands out in the English side due to his exceptional keeping skills but lacks the power game that some of his teammates possess. He wrote,
“I also look at the ‘keeper, Ben Foakes. He has kept magnificently in India, but I get the sense that he’s not in the inner circle with this setup and that his batting still doesn’t suit them,”
“The last Test was a good example: he is great in partnership with a batsman, but struggles kicking on with the tail. Once again, his batting might not be enough however good his keeping is,”
Ben Foakes has played 24 Tests, scoring 1107 runs with two centuries and four half-centuries. However, his strike rate of 47.06 is lower compared to most England batters in the lineup, who maintain a strike rate above 65.
His forward defense sees his front foot only just past the popping crease- Michael Vaughan on Ben Stokes
Michael Vaughan also highlighted a weakness in Ben Stokes’ approach against spin, suggesting that the left-hander needs to smother it more.
“I look at guys like Ollie Pope and Duckett and think they have had interesting tours. They have each played one stunning knock, but struggled otherwise. Equally, I am staggered at how, for a tall man, Stokes plays from the crease against the spin. Sometimes his forward defense sees his front foot only just past the popping crease. I’d love to see him smother spin,” the former England captain wrote.
The fifth and final Test between India and England is scheduled to start on March 7.
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