Former England opener Geoffrey Boycott lashed out at England team selectors for the way they have handled wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow and said that the latter was not exactly looking for a rest, it has been forced on him.
Being involved in two of England's three stands of more than 100 and scoring 139 runs at an average of 46, Jonny Bairstow was one of the key players for England in the recently concluded Test series against Sri Lanka as the former carried out the rescue job for England.
Before arriving in India, Jonny Bairstow was sent back home as part of England's workload management for its players and was not included in the squad for the first Tests against India.
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Earlier, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had already announced that wicket-keeper Jos Buttler will return home after first Test-match. With Jos Buttler not being available, Ben Foakes will take over the wicket-keeping duties for the remainder of three Test matches.
Reflecting on the same former England captain Geoffrey Boycott slammed England’s chief selector Ed Smith and said Smith clearly wants to see Foakes get a go and does not want Jonny playing as a keeper-batsman.
"So I get Buttler leaving India but it is poor that Bairstow is not replacing him for the second Test. It has to be because Ed Smith (chief selector) wants to see this other kid, Foakes, get a go. Smith clearly does not want Jonny playing as a keeper-batsman," Geoffrey Boycott told Telegraph.
Boycott pointed out thay Bairstow wanted to be a wicketkeeper-batsman, like his father late David Bairstow, but Ed Smith didn't heed to his choices and added that Smith and the England team's management should be ashamed of their decision.
"He (Bairstow) has always said he wants to follow his father as a keeper-batsman. He does not want to be just a specialist batsman but Smith has made that decision and I feel it is unfair. Jonny has missed his opportunity to keep wicket again and England should be ashamed of what they have done to him," he said
Boycott further said that Bairstow was not looking for a rest, it has been forced on him and added that the latter has proved his worth in Indian conditions.
"It seems as if England bring him in and push him out when it suits them. He must feel like a yo-yo he further said. Bairstow was not exactly looking for a rest, it has been forced on him. He would have been queuing up to stay in India and take the gloves.
"Jonny scored runs in Sri Lanka, he is used to India after two years in the IPL and he has a proven track record,” said Geoffrey Boycott.
Geoffrey Boycott, 80, believes England has made a mistake by leaving out both Bairstow and Buttler. According to him, because of this England won't be able to pick the best team to grab a 2-0 lead in the series.
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"You would think England would welcome competition for places. It is good for the team. If Jonny came in and kept well and scored runs Buttler would realise he has to keep playing well to stay in the side. But no. That chance has gone and England will be weaker at a point when they should pick their best team to go 2-0 up in the series," he concluded
The second Test-match between India and England will kick start from 13th February.
(PTI Inputs)
