Jonny Bairstow replaces Gary Ballance for third Ashes Test
Wednesday 22 July 2015 12:36, UK
Jonny Bairstow has been recalled to the England squad for the third Investec Ashes Test.
The Yorkshire batsman replaces Headingley team-mate Gary Ballance in the only change to the 13-man squad on duty for last week's second-Test defeat at Lord's.
Ballance's two failures there left him with just one half-century in 10 innings, and his position was questioned post-Lord's along with those of Adam Lyth and Ian Bell.
Both Lyth and Bell survive for Edgbaston, and the latter will move up the batting order to No 3 on his home ground despite a summer record worse even than that of Ballance.
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Joe Root will come in next ahead of No 5 Bairstow, who earns his chance after a sensational run of form in this season's County Championship: he averages more than 100 and scored a fifth century against Worcestershire at the weekend.
The 25-year-old has 14 Test caps, the most recent of which came in Australia during the Ashes whitewash of 2013/14.
National selector James Whitaker said: "The break ahead of the third Test will give the squad time to reflect on series so far and a chance to focus on playing the positive, confident cricket we saw in Cardiff.
"For the third Test Ian Bell will move up the order to bat at three followed by Joe Root with Jonny Bairstow coming in at five. Jonny has worked extremely hard at his game and his record for Yorkshire speaks for itself. He fully deserves this opportunity.
"Gary was naturally disappointed to miss out on this occasion however we feel that he will benefit from some time in county cricket to rediscover his form. He has already had plenty of success at international level and as selectors we are confident Gary will play a significant role for England in the future."
England squad: Cook, Ali, Anderson, Bairstow, Bell, Broad, Buttler, Finn, Lyth, Rashid, Root, Stokes, Wood.
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