{"id":319456,"date":"2023-07-27T23:36:27","date_gmt":"2023-07-27T23:36:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=319456"},"modified":"2023-07-28T01:58:48","modified_gmt":"2023-07-28T01:58:48","slug":"selectors-urged-to-make-call-on-erratic-ashes-star","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=319456","title":{"rendered":"Selectors urged to make call on 'erratic' Ashes star"},"content":{"rendered":"

English wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow<\/a> has crashed back down to Earth after his 99 not out at Old Trafford, and reignited discussion on who his country's best option is behind the stumps.<\/p>\n

Six days is a long time in cricket, with the 33-year-old returning to his customary ways for a measly score of four on day one at The Oval<\/a>.<\/p>\n

He survived just 14 balls before dragging a Josh Hazlewood delivery onto his stumps in ugly fashion.\u00a0<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> Matildas coach under fire after great's 'regret' claim<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> Aussies on top in Ashes finale despite catching woes<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> Matildas' road out of World Cup group stage revealed<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

It is no secret that Bairstow's cleanliness with the gloves this English summer has prevented the home side from capitalising on an at-times vulnerable Australian batting line-up.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But now in addition to his wicketkeeping worries, his batting will also be put under the microscope of England selectors.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"England's<\/p>\n

While his batting average this series sits a tick under 35 \u2013 which on face value is nothing to sneeze at – his two scores above 20 in nine innings are the cause for great concern.<\/p>\n

His erratic methods of dismissal will no doubt cloud the judgement of selectors with how he performs under pressure at the crease.<\/p>\n

This series, Bairstow's innings have come to an end in the following ways: stumped, lbw (trying to reverse sweep), caught at mid-on, stumped (walking out of his crease), caught at second slip, bowled (chopped on), a not out, and bowled (chopped on).\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Every ball of the Ashes will be live, free and exclusive on<\/strong><\/em> 9Now<\/strong><\/em><\/a>, and if you miss any of the action you can find full highlights and exclusive replays after every day's play<\/strong><\/em> here<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

It is nothing short of a simply perplexing trend of ways to be dismissed, which it should be mentioned often come at critical points in the series.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Former England captain and Sky Sports commentator Michael Atherton was blunt in his observation of a worrying Bairstow's habit after his dismissal at The Oval.<\/p>\n

\"Highlights:<\/p>\n

"Bairstow gets a lot of inside edges, or has in this series, got a lot of inside edges that have missed the stumps. Well, his luck has run out on this occasion," Atherton said.<\/p>\n

In perspective, the Yorkshireman has done an incredible job to get back to international level, after a brutal broken leg that left his fibula in three separate places.<\/p>\n

A dislocated ankle in a freak golf accident was the cherry on top for Bairstow, after enjoying his best ever summer with the bat at international level in 2022.<\/p>\n

However, no cricketer is immune from criticism when playing at the highest level, no less in an Ashes series on home soil.<\/p>\n

With no more Tests this summer for England, his position in the team will almost certainly come under scrutiny for months to come.<\/p>\n

The country's next Test match won't come until next year; the start of a five-match series in India beginning late January.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Bairstow<\/p>\n

With Ben Foakes banging down the door again and again at domestic level – and arguably at international level when given the chance – the end of a County Championship season may never be so important for Bairstow.<\/p>\n

Until England publicly declare their intentions moving forward with either Bairstow or Foakes, the overwhelming question mark hanging over the 'Bazball' playing XI will continue to centre around wicketkeeping.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Headlines revolving around how many more mistakes Bairstow can afford to make in his game before Foakes replaces him can only continue for so long.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It remains to be seen what Bairstow has left with the bat this series, as a big second innings looms as what could be his last ever chance in an Ashes to cause havoc like he did in Manchester.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Regardless of the state of play at The Oval, he will have all eyes on him strutting to the crease for a final time for his Test team this English summer.<\/p>\n

For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by<\/strong><\/em> clicking here<\/strong><\/em><\/a>!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

English wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow has crashed back down to Earth after his 99 not out at Old Trafford, and reignited discussion on who his country's […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":319458,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/319456"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=319456"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/319456\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":319460,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/319456\/revisions\/319460"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/319458"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=319456"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=319456"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=319456"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}