Ben Foakes Finds Himself on the Side as Jonny Bairstow Returns

Brendon McCullum was the one tasked with the tough job of informing Ben Foakes that he will be out of the squad for the Ireland Test and potentially the Ashes. 6 months ago, Ben Foakes, after the Ashes debacle was cemented as the keeper thanks to his incredible skill with the gloves. A freak injury to Jonny Bairstow, and a rich vein of form from Harry Brook, who plays exactly how Ben Stokes wants him and his side to play, has left England struggling with their selection.

Harry Brook, with his returns in Pakistan made himself undroppable. He came in as a replacement for Jonny Bairstow, the one who kicked off Bazball, and started England’s resurgence. From his century in Sydney, during that disappointing Ashes, to the English summer which had Jonny Bairstow go crazy with five centuries in the year, Jonny Bairstow went from a player who looked doubtful for the longest format to one who can not be left out.

It is a harsh call with Foakes doing so well in the County Championship, and considering his form for England too. The selectors though were left with a fair bit to think. Barring Ben Foakes, the only open slot potentially could have been the opening spot with Zak Crawley out of form. Who could move up though? Jonny Bairstow does open in white-ball cricket, but asking him to do the same, in England, against the moving ball would be asking for trouble.

Throughout his career, he was shuffled around a fair bit and that is what led to Bairstow moving in and out of the side for a while after 2019. Additionally, moving the batter who started the resurgence to the toughest position in the line-up would not have been a very fair move. Ben Stokes was another option, but in the end, England did not go that way, given the fact that Stokes already has a lot on his hands with captaincy, holding the middle-order and responsibilities as the fourth pacer keeping him busy.

Another option was moving Ollie Pope up, but given that he too has just moved to number three, another change in position may have been too much for the youngster, leading to the selectors going back to Bairstow as keeper.

Bairstow last kept for England back in 2019, and did a fair job with the gloves. He had his best year in Test Cricket back in 2016, finishing with the then highest tally for Test runs by an English batter in a calendar year. All his runs back then came at number seven while he had the gloves. His career though took another up turn last year as the beast was unlocked by the new management, who gave him the license to play in his natural, aggressive manner. He fit in perfectly with the Stokes-McCullum vision, and with Brook settled at five it only made sense to give Bairstow the gloves.

While Ben Foakes goes out, Stokes has mentioned that he remains their number one keeper. He is likely to comeback on tours to the subcontinent, where his glovework has been exceptional. As a batter too, despite not playing as aggressively as England may have wanted, he did a fair job over the last twelve months, providing some vital contributions. He looked settled for the Ashes, but for now, Ben Foakes is left waiting again.

There is no doubt that Ben Foakes will be taken aback by this selection. As a gloveman though he remains one of the best in the country, and England will be hoping he comes back strongly, as he finds himself waiting on the sidelines once more.