Former England cricketer Geoffrey Boycott has voiced his concerns over Jonny Bairstow‘s recent form and called for his exclusion from England’s playing XI for the upcoming fourth Ashes 2023 Test. Boycott reckoned that Bairstow’s performances have been subpar and recommended Ben Foakes to take his place for the crucial match at Old Trafford.
Bairstow’s struggles in the ongoing series have been evident, particularly with his fielding. Having dropped six catches so far, including crucial ones from Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne at Headingley, Bairstow’s fielding mishaps have drawn criticism. Notably, the Yorkshire cricketer shares the highest number of dropped catches in the series with his teammate Joe Root, while Australia’s wicketkeeper Alex Carey has only dropped two catches in comparison.
In addition to his fielding woes, Bairstow’s batting contributions have been inconsistent. Apart from a score of 78 in the first innings of the Edgbaston Test, his performances have been lackluster, with scores ranging from 5 to 20. These statistics, combined with his recent form, have led Boycott to advocate for his exclusion in favor of Ben Foakes.
In his column for The Telegraph, Boycott expressed his concerns, stating, “England took a calculated gamble and it hasn’t worked. In three Tests, he has dropped catches, missed a stumping, and struggled to score runs. It is a sad situation, and even though Bairstow may appear upbeat and full of energy, failing on the big stage under the spotlight can affect one’s confidence.”
Bairstow’s remarkable performance in last year’s Test summer, where he averaged 75.66 with four centuries against New Zealand and India, has been overshadowed by his recent struggles. Boycott highlighted that during that successful period, Bairstow did not have wicketkeeping responsibilities as Foakes held the position. With the emergence of Harry Brook in the middle order, Boycott opined that England’s batting lineup has become overcrowded, necessitating a change.
“Some people argue that a winning team should not be changed. However, based on my extensive experience at the highest level and my common sense, I believe that Jonny Bairstow is currently unfit… He isn’t moving at full capacity, and his batting and wicketkeeping skills have declined. While he was selected based on his outstanding batting performances last summer, he is currently a shadow of his former self,” added Boycott.
