Jonny Bairstow, who lost his place in England’s Test team after a string of underwhelming performances during their tour of India, is eager to make his mark with Yorkshire. Despite his recent struggles in the Hundred, where he scored 123 runs with one half-century across seven innings, Bairstow remains determined to regain his place in the England setup. “All I want to do is play for England,” Bairstow declared earlier this summer.
Jonny Bairstow is poised for a highly anticipated return to the Yorkshire squad as the County Championship resumes this week after a six-week hiatus. Bairstow, a prominent figure in English cricket, will feature in his first match of the season for Yorkshire, marking a significant moment for the county as they chase a promotion in Division Two.
Bairstow’s appearances for Yorkshire have been limited, with just two first-class games since the end of the 2020 season due to his commitments with the England national team and the Indian Premier League (IPL). This season, he has yet to represent Yorkshire in any format, having taken a brief hiatus between the T20 World Cup and the commencement of the Hundred, where he played for Welsh Fire.
The upcoming fixture against Sussex at Scarborough is crucial for Yorkshire, who are currently positioned just outside the promotion spots in Division Two. They trail second-placed Middlesex by a mere four points with five games remaining in the season. A victory this week could also help close the 27-point gap to the division leaders, Sussex.
England Recalls Woakes and Potts for 1st Test
England has chosen a five-man bowling attack for the first Test against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford this week, recalling Matthew Potts and Chris Woakes as the all-rounder in the absence of Ben Stokes.
Ben Stokes, recovering from a hamstring injury sustained during the Hundred, will miss the series and support from the sidelines. Matthew Potts returns to the Test side for the first time since last summer, adding depth to England’s bowling attack.
Woakes, who has been protected from further injury after Stokes’s setback, is in good form, with a crucial 62 in his last Test against the West Indies. England’s decision to bolster their bowling options while adapting to a new batting order demonstrates their confidence in the squad’s depth as they face Sri Lanka in this three-match series.
