England’s selectors have reacted to the 405-run defeat to Australia in the second Ashes Test at Lord’s by dropping the No3 batsman Gary Ballance and calling up his in-form Yorkshire team-mate Jonny Bairstow.
Bairstow, who has scored five centuries in the County Championship for the defending champions this summer and averages 100.66 in first-class cricket, is part of a 13-man squad for the third Test at Edgbaston starting on 29 July that sees Steven Finn retained as the reserve fast bowler.
The 25-year-old wicketkeeper will play as a specialist batsman at No5 in the order, with Ian Bell and Joe Root moving up as the head coach, Trevor Bayliss, and his fellow selectors hope to remedy a longstanding problem that has seen England three down for 52 runs or fewer in seven of their last eight Tests.
Ballance, who averages only 17.5 runs in his last 10 Test innings and has seen his technique heavily scrutinised, has paid the price for that statistic with Bell and the opener Adam Lyth retained despite similar struggles this series.
Bell’s promotion comes with no guarantees, with the 33-year-old having experienced a lean spell since starring in the 2013 summer Ashes series. The right-hander has averaged 28.48 during this time and England will hope the extra responsibility on his home ground can jolt his game back into life.
Adil Rashid remains in the squad despite withdrawing from the Lord’s Test because of a finger injury, with Bayliss insisting after the defeat at Lord’s he still intends to play two spinners at some stage in the series.
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 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, Anderson, Bairstow, Bell, Broad, Buttler, Finn, Lyth, Moeen, Rashid, Root, Stokes, Wood.
