England coach Brendon McCullum has backed under-fire Jonny Bairstow, saying that it was important to show faith in the batter and that he has no plans to drop the star batter for the fourth Test in Ranchi. Jonny Bairstow has been criticized for his lacklustre performance in India, as the England batter has managed to score only 102 runs in the first three Tests.
Bairstow’s highest score in the series has been 37, which he scored in the opening Test in Hyderabad. However, his contributions have been underwhelming, evidenced by scoring only four runs in the third Test in Rajkot, where England suffered a massive 434-run defeat. Furthermore, Bairstow’s dismissal for a duck in his first innings in Rajkot made him the batter with the most ducks against India in Test cricket, tallying up to eight ducks.
“I haven’t even seen the wicket. But I’d anticipate Jonny would be playing, yes,” McCullum told reporter when he was asked if Bairstow would make his 99th Test appearance in Ranchi.
McCullum recognized Bairstow’s underwhelming performance throughout the series but emphasized the importance of allowing him some time to regain his form.
“I’m not blind but he’s done so well for us and he’s had such an impactful career …,” McCullum said.
Bairstow is just two caps away from reaching 100 matches in Test cricket and a mere 96 runs shy of the 6,000-run milestone in a career marked by resilience. McCullum’s approach is to mentor the individual, not just the cricketer, highlighting that Bairstow is “a little bit different… in a good way.” He emphasizes the importance of diversity, stating that if everyone were the same, “it would be pretty bloody boring.”
“So from our point of view, we’ve got to keep on giving him confidence and block out a lot of the external noise as well and keep him really present and focused on what he’s trying to achieve, and I’m sure Jonny will come good. “I will) spend a bit of time with Jonny and remind him that he’s such a wonderful player.”
India lead the five-match series 2-1, with the fourth Test scheduled in Ranchi later this wicket.
Ananya Das is your guide to the latest trends, viral sensations, and internet phenomena. Based on a keen understanding of digital culture, Sophie navigates the ever-evolving landscape of trending topics. With an insightful and engaging approach, she explores what’s buzzing across social media platforms, ensuring readers stay in the loop with the most talked-about and shareable content online.
