WI v ENG 2019: Bayliss hoping for clarity in England's top-three slots from this Windies tour

Keaton Jennings and Rory Burns struggled to make long opening partnerships in Sri Lanka.

Jennings struck a hundred in Pallekele but still averages only 26 at the Test level | Getty

With an eye towards home Ashes later in the summer, head coach Trevor Bayliss wants England's top-three batsmen to stand up and perform during the upcoming three-match Test series against West Indies. 

Keaton Jennings and Rory Burns did quite well individually in Sri Lanka, with the former even scoring a hundred but managed partnerships of only 10, 60, 12, 22 and 3 across their five innings. While Jonny Bairstow replaced Ben Stokes at No.3 for the third and final Test of the series in Colombo giving away a sign of inconsistency. 

"It's no secret that's what we have been trying to find over the past few years. We're starting to see some guys tick those boxes and make those positions their own," Bayliss told BBC Sport

Burns, who scored 155 runs from his first six innings in the Island nation, struck a fluent 68 in the second warm-up match of this tour. But despite smashing an unbeaten 146 in Pallekele, Jennings still averages only 26 across his 28 innings at the highest level. 

Bayliss further said, "They've certainly done as well as anyone else has over the past few years. Hopefully, they can kick on to another level and this series will be another opportunity for those guys."

Although they start off this tour as firm favorites to end England's wait for their second Test series win in the Caribbean since 1968, Bayliss is wary of the threat that West Indies still possess in home conditions. 

"It's a bit of a different pressure but West Indies have had some decent results over the past 12 to 18 months. They beat us in a Test match not all that long ago, so I'm sure that will be fresh in the minds. I know full well that playing away from home against any Test nation is not easy. We'll have to play some good cricket to win," he concluded. 

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 20 Jan, 2019

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