Johnny Bairstow remains England’s go-to wicketkeeper-batter despite losing the third Test match against India.
England coach Brendon McCullum said that England’s 434-run loss to India at Rajkot on Sunday should not be blamed on Bairstow despite his current struggles. He added that Bairstow’s 17.00 average from six innings should not let fans judge his overall performance,
For more cricket news and updates, click here.
“I don’t have concerns over him (Bairstow). I’m not blind, but he’s done so well for us and had such an impactful career,” McCullum told ESPNcricinfo. “But I’d anticipate Johnny would be playing, yes.”
“We saw what we managed to get out of him, and I don’t want him to worry about anything,” he added.
India leads the five-match Test series, 2-1, with the fourth game in Ranchi on February 23. McCullum expects Bairstow to play his 99th Test cap for England in that match.
Aside from McCullum, England captain Ben Stokes also backs Bairstow despite his third Test match struggles. In Stokes’ first six matches as England’s skipper, Bairstow struck four centuries and amassed 681 runs at a rate of 96.59 and an average of 75.66.
