Ashley Giles, England and Wales Cricket Board director have backed Jonny Bairstow for getting back his permanent Test cricket contract with the board after the wicket-keeper batsman was ignored for Test contract and only given a limited-overs specialist deal for 2020-21. Jonny Bairstow last played a Test in December 2019 against South Africa
The England and Wales Cricket Board, on Thursday, announced its central contracts for the upcoming season and excluded Jonny Bairstow from the red-ball deal for the 2020-21 season. However, the board director Ashley Giles has backed the star wicketkeeper-batsman to be back in England cricket’s Test setup again.
Ashley Giles: Jonny Bairstow’s Omission Will Leave Him Hungry To Perform In Tests Again
Jonny Bairstow, who is now in UAE playing the IPL for Sunrisers Hyderabad, has not been included in the England Cricket Board’s Test central contract for the subsequent year(2020/2021). He last appeared for England in a Test match in December 2019 when they were touring South Africa.
It was the 1st Test match between South Africa and England in Centurion and Jonny Bairstow registered scores of 1 and 9 only following which he hasn’t played any Test cricket for England. Even on the same tour of South Africa, he sat out the rest of the series and has missed 12 Tests since then.
“I hope this leaves him [Bairstow] still hungry to have a big role in Test cricket,” said Giles, as quoted by Guardian.
Jonny Bairstow keeps wickets besides contributing to batting. His place has been taken by Jos Buttler who is also in form and lived up to expectations in series against Pakistan and West Indies. Jonny Bairstow has played more Tests than compatriot Jos Buttler.
Ashley Giles: Players Are Realistic About Happenings Due To Corona
Ashley Giles has also backed the board’s financial decision to keep the ongoing uncertainty in mind. ECB is still holding talks over salary cuts with its central contracted players.
“Although the players have been in a bubble for the majority of the summer they are not blind to the reality of what is going on in the world. They understand they have a part to play in that,” he added.
“The players have done a huge amount this summer to, in effect, keep the lights on for cricket but they are mature and realistic about what is going on. The discussions have been really positive and I’m confident we are close now.”
ECB awarded Test deals for the first time to youngsters Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, and Dom Sibley. There are 12 Tests,12 white-ball, 4 incremental, and 3 first bowling deals in all. Dom Bess, Chris Jordan, Dawid Malan, and Jack Leach received incremental contracts while Saqib Mahmood, Olly Stone, and Craig Overton retained pace bowling deals.