Wicketkeeper Jamie Smith set to replace Jonny Bairstow in England Test squad
A top score of 38 in 10 innings against India has left Bairstow vulnerable.
England are set to drop Jonny Bairstow from their Test side, signalling the start of a new era by handing wicketkeeping duties to newcomer Jamie Smith.
Bairstow won his 100th cap in England’s previous Test, against India in Dharamsala, but a top score of 38 in 10 innings left him vulnerable.
It is understood the selectors have now decided to act, sidelining both Bairstow and fellow gloveman Ben Foakes ahead of the West Indies series which starts at Lord’s on Jul 10.
Since spending almost a year out of the game recovering from a horrific leg break that left him wondering if he would ever play again, he has struggled to recreate his best form and moved less easily in the field.
His successor, Smith, is not even first-choice keeper at the Kia Oval – where he serves as understudy to Foakes, but makes the side as a specialist batter. The England management, led by director of cricket Rob Key and head coach Brendon McCullum, are excited about Smith’s potential as a destructive force and he fits neatly with the team’s aggressive philosophy.
Durham keeper Ollie Robinson, who has been in even more sparkling form on the domestic circuit with a first-class average of 82.66, can consider himself unlucky to be overlooked.
Matthew Potts has done well before, Gus Atkinson has previously featured in squads and Key has namechecked Nottinghamshire’s Dillon Pennington as one to watch. With Mark Wood liable to be rested following the T20 World Cup and Jofra Archer not yet cleared for red-ball cricket, they will come into the equation.
England used four spinners in India – Jack Leach, Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir – but will revert to just one in their squad at Lord’s.
