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Michael Vaughan expresses delight ahead of Jonny Bairstow’s 100th Test but casts a doubt on senior-batter’s future

Jonny Bairstow’s performance in the Test series against India leading up to the fifth and final match has been underwhelming. However, England’s coach, Brendon McCullum, expressed unwavering confidence in the batsman, confirming his selection for the upcoming game in Dharamsala which will be his landmark 100th Test. This decision sparked discussions about the delicate balance between sentiment and performance in team selection.

Former cricketer Michael Vaughan, in his column for the Telegraph, agreed that Bairstow’s 100th Test is a well-deserved honour. He highlighted the achievement and the emotional significance of reaching the milestone. However, Vaughan remained critical of Brstow’s recent form, suggesting his selection might be based more on sentiment than current performance. He warned that a poor showing could jeopardize Bairstow’s place in future matches.

“Jonny Bairstow plays his 100th Test in Dharamsala and I am delighted about that. It’s a great triumph of resilience and, even in terms of sentiment, I believe that if you get to 99 caps you deserve the moment of your 100th. However, you can’t escape that he could miss out on his 101st. He hasn’t played well enough across the 10 Tests he’s been back in the side, especially in India,” Vaughan wrote.

“His batting still doesn’t suit them”- Michael Vaughan on Ben Foakes

Vaughan also cast doubt on Ben Foakes‘ long-term role. While acknowledging Foakes’ exceptional keeping in India, Vaughan suspects he might not be fully trusted by the new management. He feels Foakes’ batting isn’t a perfect fit for England’s aggressive approach. Vaughan cites the last Test as evidence, suggesting Foakes excels alongside established batsmen but struggles to score runs with the tail.

“I also look at the ‘keeper, Ben Foakes. He has kept magnificently in India, but I get the sense that he’s not in the inner circle with this setup and that his batting still doesn’t suit them. The last Test was a good example: he is great in partnership with a batsman but struggles to kick on with the tail. Once again, his batting might not be enough however good his keeping is,” the 49-year-old said.