England's Jonny Bairstow fit to face New Zealand after freak injury
Saturday 3 March 2018 00:21, UK
Jonny Bairstow has declared himself fit for England's third ODI against New Zealand in Wellington on Saturday.
The Yorkshireman twisted an ankle when he stepped on his own water bottle while fielding on the boundary in Wednesday's win at Mount Maunganui.
Bairstow likened the incident to the time when Glenn McGrath was injured warming up at Edgbaston during the 2005 Ashes.
"It's one of those things - a freak thing like Glenn McGrath standing on that ball," he said on Friday. "I had just been signing a couple of kids' autographs, I turned round and stood on the water bottle.
"It was my own water bottle which made it even more of a kick in the teeth. (But) life goes on - I'm fine for tomorrow."
Live One-Day International Cricket
England's one-day international opener, and Test wicketkeeper, excels in all formats of the game but he has made it clear that he prizes his Test career above all else.
Bairstow, who has won 50 Test caps, does not disparage ODI team-mates Adil Rashid and Alex Hales' decision to relegate Test ambitions by agreeing white-ball-only county contracts, but he will not be following suit any time soon.
"I won't be going down that route just yet - we can put that to bed for the next few years at least," he said.
"We need to back individuals' decisions... you can't force people into playing things. (But) I want to play all formats for England. I have put a lot of time and effort into white and red-ball cricket over a long period of time to get into the teams and play for England.
"That's what I want to do for a long time. I want to go on and play as many Tests as I can - because you get remembered for how many Tests you've played."
England fielded an unchanged side for their six-wicket victory over New Zealand in the second ODI are expected to name the same XI, meaning Alex Hales and Sam Billings will both miss out again.
New Zealand will have captain Kane Williamson back in their ranks after the captain sat out the defeat at Mount Maunganui with a hamstring strain.
Mark Chapman, who made his Black Caps ODI debut in Williamson's stead, is likely to win a second cap as Ross Taylor is ruled out with a quadriceps injury.
England (possible): EJG Morgan (Captain), JJ Roy, JM Bairstow, JE Root, BA Stokes, JC Buttler (wkt), MM Ali, CR Woakes, DJ Willey, TK Curran, AU Rashid
New Zealand (possible): K Williamson (Captain), M Guptill, C Munro, M Chapman, H Nicholls, C de Grandhomme, T Latham (wkt), M Santner, T Southee, L Ferguson, T Boult
Watch England take on New Zealand in the third ODI live on Sky Sports Cricket and Main Event from 12.30am on Saturday morning.
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