Joe Root has flexed his captaincy muscles and axed the misfiring Jonny Bairstow from his Test team.
The 69-times capped Bairstow has been left reeling at the news that he must 'reset and work on a few things' if he is to continue as part of the Test team in future.
Ultimately he has paid the price for a mediocre Ashes campaign with the bat and this is where the captain and the selectors are looking for a reaction.
Bairstow's form with the bat in Test cricket has been in decline over the past two years, while his white-ball form has skyrocketed culminating in his impact at the World Cup.
And although he will still play in the T20s beforehand he will leave New Zealand once the Test tour gets underway in November and Jos Buttler will take over as the No.1 wicket-keeper batsman.
National selector Ed Smith called Bairstow with the news before revealing the full squad at Lord's and said: “Jonny is one of our pre-eminent white-ball players and there's no doubt about that.
“In Test cricket he's had a more difficult time and this is a chance for him to reset and work on one or two things.
“He hasn't been rested, that would be a cop out. I think this will do him good and my prediction is he comes back strong and he still has the chance to become a top batsman in Test cricket for England.”
