Jonny Bairstow’s “horrific” broken leg has left him unable to do much more than run straight lines. But he is also capable of thinking clearly, and he has determined that in order to increase his chances of playing in the Ashes series this summer, he must return to his wicket keeping duties for Yorkshire.
In a bizarre accident in September of last year, Jonny Bairstow fell on a golf course close to Harrogate and suffered a broken fibula in three places, an ankle fracture, and tendon injury.
Bairstow has spent the winter watching in displeasure as England has extended a remarkable run to 10 wins in their last 12 Tests and his fellow Yorkshire batter, Harry Brook, has won his middle-order spot in spectacular fashion.
Bairstow helped launch England’s more aggressive era under the Ben Stokes-Brendon McCullum combination with prolific returns in successive Tests last summer against New Zealand and India.
It is not guaranteed that Bairstow will return to full fitness in time for the Ashes. Yorkshire’s head coach, Ottis Gibson, stated that a medical opinion indicated he would be able to play some cricket “by the middle to the end of May”; nevertheless, England’s first Test match against Ireland at Lord’s begins on June 1.
It probably didn’t stop Bairstow from spotting two clear entrances into the side. Ben Stokes would be used as an opening batsman in place of Zak Crawley in the first scenario (although an all-rounder like Sam Curran would also be taken into consideration if Stokes’ bowling was restricted), while Ben Foakes would be replaced as the wicketkeeper in the second scenario.
Bairstow, who has put the gloves in 49 of his 89 Tests—the final one taking place at the Oval in September 2021 against India—has already informed Yorkshire that he intends to stay.
The fact that Yorkshire do not have a Championship match on May 18 does not favour him (inviting the idea that he would even try to play a game on loan), and getting well in time for a trip to Durham at Chester-le-Street a week earlier would be a major accomplishment.
Yorkshire’s cricket director, Darren Gough, stated:
“I think Jonny realises there is competition for places. He had his best year ever for England but you know what it’s like, someone comes into the side and it’s hard to get back.”
“He probably wants to give himself as many opportunities as he can. He’s a top player, he’s in a good place mentally with his game. He’s worked out where he wants to be and where he wants to go.
“I think Jonny has said he’d like to keep. He obviously sees a place in the England side – he’s seen everyone do well and he wants to keep. He’s not fit yet; he’s working hard and going well. It’s a case of him getting fit, which is not easy coming back from that injury.”
“It was horrific. he’s got to come back from that injury and show he’s 100% fit, you can’t play someone who’s not. The ECB wouldn’t clear him if he’s not. Whether he plays in one game, two games or none of the games before England we’ll see where that goes.”
Gibson did not minimize the challenge Bairstow must overcome to compete before the Ashes series.
“He’s had a horrific injury but he’s tracking well. He’s running up and down, he can run in straight lines but he’s not doing much lateral stuff yet. I’ve had a conversation with him and the medical team, who’ve done a great job, they think by the end of May he should be in position to play cricket. Everything is moving in the right direction.”
Other players would have preferred a more cautious approach, trying to adjust gradually, thinking it might be best to avoid throwing yourself around in the dirt for a few days, but Bairstow is not that kind of player.
It is still early, so it is hardly unexpected that England has not yet communicated its choices to Yorkshire.
Jonny Tattersall, who was provisionally promoted to captain at the beginning of the season because Shan Masood, who was appointed with some fanfare last year, is missing with Pakistan — the extent of his absence is still to be confirmed — is the Yorkshire player who must wait to learn his fate.
Within a few weeks, Tattersall might find himself without the gloves and the captaincy. For a player who started out as a batter, was discharged by the county, was invited back as a wicketkeeper, was later dropped, and was then eventually identified as leadership material, it is simply another twist in his career.
Tattersall was made by his honesty. Of course, I’d want to keep the gloves, he admitted.
“You want to play every game, don’t you? But the club’s goals are bigger than my personal goals, so if that means I have to step aside to let Jonny take the gloves, that’s fine. If we’re winning games of cricket, to me it doesn’t matter.
“I’ve been used to that before. I wasn’t a keeper until the 2018 season. I kept trying to get into the first team. That worked for me. I understand it’s a professional sport and Jonny is an international player; he is that for a reason. If he needs certain things to prepare for England, so be it.”