Yorkshire fume as Jonny Bairstow 'rested' despite playing just THREE days of cricket since Christmas
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England cricket supremo Andrew Strauss received another pelter from the shires over player availability just days after his decision was branded a ‘joke’.
Yorkshire are still bristling over the non-appearance of Jonny Bairstow so far this summer despite securing an innings and 88 run win over Warwickshire.
The England keeper will return to face Hampshire on Friday along with captain Joe Root, but after playing just one international one day match since Christmas the need for him to ‘rest’ is not being bought at Headingley.
“I can see why someone like Rooty would want a rest given the amount of cricket he’s played,” said head coach Andrew Gale.
(Photo: Getty)
(Photo: PA)
“But Jonny has played one one-day international since Christmas. I think he’s played three days of cricket.
“For me, he should have been available right from the first game of the season. He had enough time off from the end of the West Indies trip. I felt he should have been available.
(Photo: Getty)
“We want our players to play for England, but when they’re available we want them to play for us as well.”
The remaining two Division One games were both drawn as Surrey leaned on tons from their batting imports Kumar Sangakkara and Scott Borthwick after following on against Lancashire, while champions Middlesex survived against a dominant Hampshire.