Bairstow back in the fold with England

Yorkshire’s Jonny Bairstow has replaced wicketkeeper Jos Buttler for the remainder of England’s Royal London one-day international series against Australia.
Yorkshire's Jonny Bairstow.Yorkshire's Jonny Bairstow.
Yorkshire's Jonny Bairstow.

The 25-year-old was left out of the squad which lost by 64 runs to the Baggy Green at Lord’s on Saturday, but with Buttler now rested, he is included ahead of Tuesday’s meeting at Old Trafford and subsequent fixture at Headingley before a closing return to Manchester.

England coach Trevor Bayliss said: “While we initially felt Jos would have enough left in the tank for this ODI series, it has become clear in the last couple of days that he will benefit from a break from cricket ahead of the winter tours.

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“We know that for players involved in all formats finding periods throughout the year when they can rest is key and Jos has had a heavy workload throughout 2015.

“Resting players provide opportunities for others in the international arena and Jonny Bairstow now has a chance to build on the one-day form he showed at the end of the New Zealand series earlier this summer.”

That form included a series-winning 83 not out against New Zealand in June, with many considering him unlucky to miss out on the start of this series. His departure for the England camp means he will miss Yorkshire’s likely title coronation against Middlesex this week.

Bairstow featured in the final three Ashes Tests and scored 74 runs in the fourth at Trent Bridge as England secured a series victory to recover the urn.

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He will line up against county colleague Aaron Finch after Cricket Australia confirmed on Sunday that he would replace the injured David Warner, who has been forced to withdraw with a broken thumb.

Like Bairstow, Finch will miss this week’s County Championship clash against Middlesex at Lord’s.

Warner was ruled out and will fly home on Monday after breaking his thumb when hit by a short ball from Steven Finn and was forced to retire hurt in the second game in the five-match series at Lord’s.

It was later announced by CA that Finch, already in England as Yorkshire’s overseas player, will be the tourists’ replacement opening batsman for the final three matches of a series they already lead 2-0.

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As well as Tuesday’s third match in the series at Old Trafford, Finch will line up against England in the more familiar surroundings of Headingley on Friday, before the final match of the series on Sunday back at Old Trafford.

Yorkshire – who could already have been crowned Division One champions for a second successive year – play at Hampshire in the County Championship the following day.