New Zealand registered their third Test series win against England in the recently concluded two-match Test series in the UK. While everyone lauded the Kiwis for their fantastic efforts, former Australia cricketer Shane Warne criticized England selectors for not picking wicket-keeper batsman Jonny Bairstow.

“No one has grabbed that opportunity. Why isn’t Jonny Bairstow playing Test cricket? He’s actually performed extremely well. I look at England and I think they’re worried about their tactics, I don’t think they’re playing aggressive enough cricket, they’re so worried about the performances of everyone, they’re resting people,” Warne said on the Road to the Ashes podcast, in conversation with Mark Waugh and Michael Vaughan.

Former England skipper Michael Vaughan who was also a part of this conversation supported the Aussie leg-spinner's comment about Bairstow and explained the last few months of the cricketer.

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After playing fairly well in the Test series in Sri Lanka, Bairstow was sent back to England to get some rest, because he had to feature in the IPL 2021. On his return to the Test series in India, his form dropped and eventually, he was not picked for New Zealand Tests.

“On Jonny Bairstow, Jonny Bairstow had his Test place back against Sri Lanka. He played okay in those two games. He then went home to walk his dog. Got his place back after 18 months, he did okay, he’s in the team,” Vaughan said.

“Then he went back home and missed the first two Tests against India and came back and went nought, nought, nought and now he’s out the side because he went to the IPL and they weren’t going to pick anybody for the New Zealand series that went to the IPL,” he added.

With England scheduled to play a five-match Test series against ‘powerhouse’ India in August, it will be interesting to see the combination the home team decides to go with.