Jonny Bairstow cleared for fourth Test against India
Yorkshireman available for England at the Ageas Bowl but may not be wicketkeeper; fourth Test starts on Thursday, live on Sky Sports
Tuesday 28 August 2018 21:53, UK
Jonny Bairstow is fit to play for England in the fourth Test against India but it has still to be decided whether he will keep wicket.
After injuring his finger during the third Test defeat at Trent Bridge, Bairstow could feature as a specialist batsman only, but the Yorkshireman is keen to return as England's wicketkeeper.
Ahead of the Test, which begins on Thursday at the Ageas Bowl, Bairstow said: "The finger feels good, the swelling has gone down, and it is a lot better than I thought it was going to be.
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"I am going to try and keep wicket in training.
"You obviously want to play so, if I am not able to keep wicket, then I'd like to think I would play as a specialist batsman.
"But at the same time, I am desperate to try and keep my place as the keeper."
With Jos Buttler now back in the team, it has been suggested that he should be handed the gloves, so Bairstow can focus on his batting.
Asked if he felt such a switch might get more from him as a batsman, Bairstow said: "I think that is quite a bold statement.
"If you look, my stats are better when I am keeping wicket as well, so you are entering uncharted territories when you make bold statements like that.
"I am very keen to keep my spot as keeper, because I like to think it has gone well over the last 38, 39 Test matches."
The England-India series is nicely poised, with the hosts 2-1 up with two to play, but very wary of India's abilities, after the tourists secured an emphatic win at Trent Bridge.
And Test cricket is back at the Ageas Bowl this week for the first time since England beat India by 266 runs in 2014.
"It is going to be a great contest," said Bairstow.
"Obviously we are 2-1 up in the series, but India played well in that last game.
"In the last Test match that was played here, it was a comprehensive win, so we will turn up excited and raring to go.
"We are full of confidence still. There is no harm in halfway through a series not necessarily putting in our strongest performance, because it makes you come back and want to put the record straight."
