ENG vs WI: Decision to drop Jonny Bairstow from England Test squad explained

England managing director Rob Key has revealed the decision to drop veteran Jonny Bairstow from England squad for the Test series against West Indies.

Key has endorsed 'rare talent' Jamie Smith to secure the England wicketkeeper position, indicating concerns about Bairstow's ability to manage the physical demands of the role as the reason for his omission from the Test side.

Surrey batter Smith is poised to debut in the series opener against West Indies at Lord’s next week, having been named in a 14-man squad that marks the most significant shakeup of the Bazball era to date.

Bairstow, who has featured in 100 Test matches, has been omitted, as has Ben Foakes, who kept wicket throughout the winter tour of India and is the preferred choice over Smith at Surrey.

“We’ve been watching Jamie Smith for quite some time,” said Key, the managing director of England men’s cricket. “You just see players who are rare talents and he looks like that.

“There’s a lot made of us just wanting someone who can go out there and play shots and not the case. We want someone who can not only up ante when they’re batting with the tail but soak up pressure when they need to as well and we feel Jamie Smith can do that.”

While Foakes was handed the gloves in India, Bairstow was the first-choice keeper during last year’s home Ashes.

“Jonny needs to get back to what he was a couple of years ago,” said Key, referring to the 2022 home summer, when Bairstow launched the tenure of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum with a freakish run of four centuries in three Tests. “Generally, his form in all formats has been going in slightly the wrong direction. You want him to get back to what he was when Brendon and Ben started out.

“It’s an arduous task, being a keeper as well, so you want someone who can back up series after series and we weren’t convinced Jonny would be able to do that, especially at the stage of career he’s at.”

England's squad for the first two Tests against West Indies

Ben Stokes (Captain), James Anderson (First Test only), Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Dillon Pennington, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith and Chris Woakes.

England vs West Indies Test series schedule

First Test — July 10 to 14 @ Lord's Cricket Ground

Second Test — July 18 to 22 @ Trent Bridge, Nottingham

Third Test — July 26 to 30 @ Edgbaston, Birmingham 

Comments

Submit