I'm going to start by saying I don't think bairstow should have been picked,
That being said, it is a tour to Sri Lanka, spin will be a big factor,
We have two unproven openers in these conditions in Sibley and Crawley, I think Sibley may struggle personally.
Then to have denly at 3 who has shown he isn't very good against spin would be a huge risk
Having bairstow back is at least someone who has previously done well in these conditions (whilst being crap against the seamers), so it isn't as daft as most people are making out.
I totally agree that he has done nothing to earn it but it still makes some sense to me. I also think Jennings should tour as back up too and won't be overly surprised if he's at 3 for the second game coz Johnny doesn't score anything
Come the summer Crawley will be at 3 behind Sibley and Burns anyway
It's who takes the gloves is a key factor
Anyway back to the south Africa series, when do the Odis start?