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England star Jonny Bairstow sets sights on Jos Buttler as he bids to restart stuttering Test career

, England star Jonny Bairstow sets sights on Jos Buttler as he bids to restart stuttering Test career

JONNY BAIRSTOW set his sights on dislodging Jos Buttler this summer as he bids to rejuvenate his Test career.

As has been the case for several years, the JB v JB debate continues to rage.

Jonny Bairstowset his sights on dislodging Jos Buttler this summer as he bids to rejuvenate his Test career

Who is the better batsman? Who should keep wicket?

It remains unresolved, although Buttler is the man in possession.

After a winter in which Bairstow played just one Test — scoring one and nine as a late replacement when illness swept through the team in South Africa — the Yorkshireman wants his place back.

He says he is mentally and physically refreshed after an enforced Covid-19 lay-off.

And Bairstow, 30, hopes to impress the selectors during England’s two-week training camp in Southampton leading into the First Test against West Indies on July 8.

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His most likely route to the team would be reclaiming the gloves from Buttler.

Although there might be a chance as a specialist batsman at No 3 with Zak Crawley and Joe Denly also in the mix. Rory Burns and Dom Sibley are likely to open.

Bairstow’s most recent Test century was at No 3 against Sri Lanka in November 2018.

, England star Jonny Bairstow sets sights on Jos Buttler as he bids to restart stuttering Test career

Jos Buttler has one fifty in 19 innings and just one century in a 41-Test career

And he said: “Red-ball cricket has been a massive part of my career.

“There’s no reason why that shouldn’t be the case now. I hope my experience will help and I’m looking forward to being available for selection.

“I was disappointed to lose the gloves. My keeping stats were very good and I didn’t feel like I’d done anything wrong and was complimented highly by people.

“You can only be judged on recent performances and I think mine were good.

“I hope they get me back into the side as long as I score enough runs.

“At the start of my career, some people questioned my keeping but that’s stopped over the last couple of years.

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“Similarly with my batting, I’m pleased with the way my training has been going here at Yorkshire.

“I’m not ruling anything out. I want to keep my options open. I’ve always been positive about playing.

“There have been challenges — whether keeping wicket or batting in certain positions and circumstances — and I would like to think I’ve risen to those challenges.”

One issue for both Bairstow and Buttler has been their recent batting form. Disappointing is an understatement.

Bairstow has one half-century in his last 16 Test innings and is bowled too often for a top international player.

Buttler has one fifty in 19 innings and, incredibly, just ONE century in a 41-Test career.

As ’keepers, there is little to choose between them. But Bairstow probably has the edge, although neither is as good as Surrey’s Ben Foakes.

Bairstow added: “It’s well-documented that the international schedule is pretty tough.

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“Nobody wanted this break because of the circumstances — but it means I’ll be fresh coming back.

“I had something like six nights at home between October and February.

“It’s given me time to think about a lot of different things and spend time at home and with family.

“I’ve been able to reset mentally and, with gyms closed, physically do things I’ve not done in a while, such as running and cycling.”

Bairstow will crank up his training today by travelling to Durham to face the likes of Mark Wood and Ben Stokes at near-full throttle after working in the past fortnight only with a bowling machine and a coach throwing balls.

Bairstow will today be named as one of 30 players who will gather at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton next week, reduced from the original 55 who have been training.

He believes that they can overcome the eerie, spectator-less atmosphere when the international matches start.

Bairstow said: “There are certain places around the world that don’t necessarily have massive crowds for Test cricket.

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“So I don’t think it’ll be too dissimilar to some of those. Internal motivators will get you through.

“If you rewind six or eight weeks, we’d have taken cricket on the telly behind closed doors in July.

“I don’t know if you’ve watched the golf, but I’ve been completely captivated just because there’s live sport back on TV.

“Likewise, with the rugby in the southern hemisphere. It’s been great to see live sport back on the TV.”

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, England star Jonny Bairstow sets sights on Jos Buttler as he bids to restart stuttering Test career

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