Bairstow will miss BBL 10 after being recalled for international duty.
England wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow is all set to be recalled to the Test squad for the upcoming two-match Test tour of Sri Lanka later this month. The first Test starts on 14th January 2021.
Bairstow was dropped from England’s Test team after the Boxing Day Test against South Africa last year due to his poor batting form, although he remains a key member of the world champions’ limited-overs team, and is currently in South Africa for the ongoing 6-match white-ball series.
He couldn’t make a big impression in the IPL 2020 but found his form in the recently victorious three-match T20I series in South Africa.
Bairstow is likely to be recalled to the Test squad on the back of his old batting record in Sri Lanka – scored a Test century at No. 3 two years ago and Joe Root can use him as a floater across the batting line-up during the Test series.
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According to a report in the Evening Standard, Bairstow is set to be recalled to the Test side for England’s upcoming tour of the Island nation for the two-match Test series in January.
For the tour, the 31-year-old had to even withdraw from the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) 2020-21 where he was to make his BBL debut with Melbourne Stars. The BBL 10 is set to kick start from December 10 and Bairstow was set to join the club after Christmas.
Stars coach David Hussey stated: “We’re naturally disappointed Jonny won’t be able to link up with us this season but we wish him well on his recall and England’s winter tours.”
England is yet to announce the squad for the Sri Lanka tour but it is being said that the pace spearhead Jofra Archer could be rested for the series to manage his workload as the side is slated for another tough tour of India following the Lanka Tests in January.