Sayers predicts bright winter for Bairstow despite England omission (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Joe Sayers predicts bright winter for Yorkshire colleague Jonny Bairstow despite England omission

6:30pm Friday 9th December 2011 in Yorkshire By Graham Hardcastle

Jonny Bairstow has missed out on a place in England’s 16-man Test squad for their New Year tour of the Middle East, where they will play Pakistan in a three-match series.

Surrey wicketkeeper Steve Davies has been preferred as Matt Prior’s understudy to the 21-year-old Yorkshireman, who is currently training with the Performance Programme squad in India.

Headingley colleague Tim Bresnan, currently recovering from elbow surgery, has been included, while Monty Panesar is the second spinner alongside Graeme Swann.

Even though Bairstow has not yet played Test cricket, he is seen as one of the English game’s brightest prospects and it would not have been a surprise to see him included.

He has played a part in the last two one-day series against India, both at home and away, and should retain his place for the one-day leg of the Middle East tour in February.

Yorkshire team-mate Joe Sayers said: “All in all, I think it’s going to be a really positive winter for Jonny, one that he will be able to take a lot from.

“Like any player, he’ll come across challenges in his career, but I think he’s got the strength of character to respond well to those. The signs are good for him at the moment.

“He’s certainly got the attributes to be a successful international cricketer, there’s no doubt about that. He’s got the determination, the ability to learn and the willingness to work hard and improve his skills.”

Despite scoring a sparkling century in a warm-up game at Hyderabad in October, the right-hander struggled to assert himself during the 5-0 one-day whitewash that followed against the Indians.

But Sayers is confident the Bradford-born player can take the positives from that experience.

The opening batsman said: “The selection for the one-day internationals may have come as a surprise to him and I think he would probably be the first to say that. But I think it’s been a great experience for him.

“Obviously the India tour was a difficult one to go on and hit the ground running. Being the hard-hitting batsman that Jonny is, playing against the guile of the Indian spinners in their home conditions is a real challenge.

“I’m sure he will have come away from that challenge a more learned batsman – and possibly a more versatile one as well.”

The first Test against Pakistan starts on January 17 in Dubai, with the second in Abu Dhabi and the third back in Dubai.

England squad: A Strauss (capt), J Anderson, I Bell, R Bopara, T Bresnan, S Broad, A Cook, S Davies, S Finn, E Morgan, M Panesar, K Pietersen, M Prior, G Swann, C Tremlett, J Trott.