The brilliant 23-year-old Brook will make his Test debut at the Kennington Oval on Thursday thanks to a freak injury to Bairstow. 

In the England Lions’ practise match against South Africa in Canterbury, Brook, who leads the County Championship Division One runs chart with 967 runs at an average of 107.44 and three tonnes, also smashed a 140.

Due to a lower limb injury, Bairstow will miss the Test and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia later this month.

With 1061 runs at an average of 66.31 and six hundreds this year, he is England’s leading Test run-scorer.

Jonny Bairstow announced via Instagram that he slipped on the golf course and will see a specialist to determine the full extent of the injury.

The Yorkshire batter stated that he was gutted he would miss England’s fixtures in the immediate future. He wrote:

“Unfortunately, I am going to be unavailable for all games/ tours in the immediate future. The reason being is that I have injured my lower leg in a freak accident and it shall need an operation. The injury came when I slipped on the golf course this morning. I am gutted and want to wish everyone for this week at The Oval all the best firstly and the boys that are going to Australia for the T20 World Cup. Absolutely gutted! I will be back… Jonathan Marc.”

He said

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The 23-year-old has previous experience of tackling the dangerous South African bowlers. In the practice match before the mega series, Brook smashed 140 runs from 170 deliveries and was later dismissed by Markram. Ben Duckett, who was called up for Bairstow’s replacement, will have to wait for some more time. Duckett was brilliant for the England Lions as well. The southpaw scored 145 runs in the match.

Meanwhile, Brook made his T20I debut against the West Indies at Barbados earlier in the year. Meanwhile the management has decided to go ahead with Broad and Anderson amidst some rumours of giving them rest to manage their workload.