India vs England 2021: Jonny Bairstow Is A Multi-Format Player, He Deserves Rest - Chris Silverwood

Head coach of the England cricket team, Chris Silverwood defends the decision of resting Jonny Bairstow for the first two Tests of the 4-Test series in India. The management is receiving a lot of flak from former cricketers and fans for not putting up their best eleven against India.

England has rested three key players in Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran, and Mark Wood from the squad for the first two Tests in Chennai.

These three players played in the victorious series in Sri Lanka and are been given rest in accordance with the rotation policy inducted by the England and Wales Cricket Board(ECB) keeping in mind the tight schedule in 2021 – the Three Lions are expected to play 17 Tests in a 12-month period in addition to the several limited-overs matches leading up to the T20 World Cup. Many English star cricketers will also be part of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

We’ve got to give Jonny Bairstow some time to chill out: Chris Silverwood

Chris Silverwood is happy with Bairstow’s performances in Sri Lanka – 139 runs at an average of 46.33. The 45-year-old says that while Bairstow played well on the turning tracks in Sri Lanka, it doesn’t guarantee a permanent spot.

Since the right-hander is making a comeback in the Test side, he is not one of their first-choice players –Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, and Rory Burns will return to the eleven. Chris Silverwood reckons that Bairstow is one of their all-three format players and hence deserves rest.

As quoted by news18.com, Chris Silverwood said,  “He will come back into the group and the rest of it will be down to selection. We don’t make any guarantees to anybody. You can’t because you don’t know where you’re going to be at that moment in time.”

“But I do think it is right that Jonny has a rest. He’s very busy and is a multi-format player, and we’ve got to look after him and give him some time to chill out.

“I think he did well (in Sri Lanka). Jonny asked me the same question, and I said to him, ‘You did very well. I think he went in in some difficult periods of the game and applied himself very well on some testing wickets. I was very pleased with him,” the head coach added.

While Bairstow, Curran, and Wood are rested for the first half of the Test series in India, England welcomes back Jofra Archer, Ben Stokes, and Rory Burns who were rested from the Sri Lanka tour.

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