Jonny Bairstow News: After suffering an injury while playing golf on Friday, September 2, Jonny Bairstow has been ruled out of the third Test against South Africa and the next T20 World Cup in Australia.
The news comes just hours after England announced their World Cup squad, and a replacement for Bairstow is expected to be identified soon. Ben Duckett has been called up for the third Test, which begins on September 7.
According to the ECB, Bairstow experienced a “lower-limb injury,” which is thought to be in his left leg, and will see a specialist next week to “ascertain the full extent”
Bairstow was playing golf at Pannal Golf Club near Harrogate on Friday morning when he slipped while walking to a tee box. The injury is thought to be significant and may be a fracture, ruling Bairstow out of England’s December Test tour to Pakistan.
Bairstow wrote in a post on his Instagram story, “Unfortunately I am going to be unavailable of [sic] 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 the boys that are going to Australia for the T20 World Cup. Absolutely gutted! I will be back.”
England has suffered a significant setback as a result of Bairstow’s injury. This year, he is the leading run-scorer in Test cricket and a senior member of their white-ball teams. The timing of his injury is especially galling for England, as it occurred on the same day that they announced their T20 World Cup roster.
Rob Key, England’s managing director of men’s cricket and interim chair of selectors, stated on Friday morning that Bairstow would open the batting alongside Jos Buttler in the World Cup, after batting primarily in the middle order for the previous two years.
England has not yet named a substitute. Will Jacks, the Surrey and Oval Invincibles opener, is the most likely possibility after being nominated to the squad for the pre-World Cup tour of Pakistan, although Alex Hales, Jason Roy, James Vince, and Joe Root are among the other names who might return to contention.
Nottinghamshire hitter Ben Duckett has been joined to the squad for Thursday’s third Test at The Oval. Harry Brook, who has spent the summer as a spare batter for the club, is expected to make his Test debut in the middle order.
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