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[six and out]

One way to sort out the problem..... rest him for the series. Think we will see Sibley, Burns and Crawley in India then.

[ppccopener]

Butler confirmed actually to be missing the last 3 India tests .

Presuming that Bairstow  does not get the gloves....Foakes will play 3 test matches in India.

[rickjames]

Inject that into my veins

[Rez]

He isn't a proven world class test batsman though, averaging mid 30s is average at best!!! Clearly has technical deficiencies as gets out the same way too often.

Well, in the absence of a definition for world class.... it's a fairly subjective notion. However, using your criteria:

IT Botham - 33.54

Clearly not world class! 

[ppccopener]

I think Botham got a few wickets as well as the runs but I havnt seen Bairstow bowl so that may also be subjective.

I guess if he could he would of had a bowl by now thou.

[Rez]

Haha, very true 

How about

AJ Lamb - 36.09

I just think we are too quick to dismiss someone who has over 4000 test runs, 6 centuries and 21 50's. I get looking to the future and all that but the guy clearly can perform at the top level.

[alexhilly1492]

So where does he bat?

Not 3 that's Crawley's for the foreseeable
Not 6 that's pope/Lawrence

Open? Burns and Sibley

7? It's him or buttler so not there

4/5 root and stokes

[Jimbo]

Haha, very true 

How about

AJ Lamb - 36.09

I just think we are too quick to dismiss someone who has over 4000 test runs, 6 centuries and 21 50's. I get looking to the future and all that but the guy clearly can perform at the top level.

Think it matters where he made those runs and how long ago it was! Hasn't he scored the majority of his test runs batting at 7?

[ppccopener]

JB certainly has scored runs at top level. His record over the last 2 odd years thou has not been very good. So it depends how much you rely on past performances to get selected in the current teams.

From my armchair selection he does not get into the current side, I would have Foakes keeping and Butler as a batter. If Jos keeps Pope gets in before him and Lawrence as well-more on potential for Lawrence.

Comparing eras for batsmen who played 20 years ago is difficult, there's many things to take into account before working out who was better.
Personally I don't think it can be done on just numbers, as pitches have changed, to counter that you could say DRS gives a lot of batsmen out now where as before they got away with the benefit of the doubt.

There's also the standard of bowling attacks faced,so a few things make direct comparisons quite difficult.

I watched Lamb score hundreds against one of the best bowling attacks even seen in the game since records began....
Similar with Atherton who I think averaged about 37 or 38 or something.

Having said all that the last match I thought Bairstow batted pretty responsibly and well, clearly it's pace that is e problem, not spin.

[Rez]

JB certainly has scored runs at top level. His record over the last 2 odd years thou has not been very good. So it depends how much you rely on past performances to get selected in the current teams.

From my armchair selection he does not get into the current side, I would have Foakes keeping and Butler as a batter. If Jos keeps Pope gets in before him and Lawrence as well-more on potential for Lawrence.

Comparing eras for batsmen who played 20 years ago is difficult, there's many things to take into account before working out who was better.
Personally I don't think it can be done on just numbers, as pitches have changed, to counter that you could say DRS gives a lot of batsmen out now where as before they got away with the benefit of the doubt.

There's also the standard of bowling attacks faced,so a few things make direct comparisons quite difficult.

I watched Lamb score hundreds against one of the best bowling attacks even seen in the game since records began....
Similar with Atherton who I think averaged about 37 or 38 or something.

Having said all that the last match I thought Bairstow batted pretty responsibly and well, clearly it's pace that is e problem, not spin.

Couldn't agree more and am always telling people that it is impossible to compare eras too much has changed in the game but those 2 jumped out from the page in the mid 30's. Athers and Nasser also 37.

[six and out]

This is a really good article explaining about what England are doing with their selection rotation policy over the winter.

https://m.cricbuzz.com/amp/cricket-news/115851/englands-rotation-policy-a-move-anchored-in-flexibility-and-pragmatism-cricbuzzcom?__twitter_impression=true

[Byo]

Well, in the absence of a definition for world class.... it's a fairly subjective notion. However, using your criteria:

IT Botham - 33.54

Clearly not world class! 

Botham was an all rounder which Bairstow certainly isn't so don't really understand that comparison!!!

Lamb was a good good international batsman who scored runs against world class bowlers from a different era so again don't understand that one.

The mai  issue I have is that he keeps getting out the same way against seam bowling, in much before same way Ballance did. As has been mentioned I just dont see him fitting into the current batting line up, in my opinion better options ahead of him.

[Rez]

I tend to agree with you and it is difficult to see where he fits into the current squad. In terms of whether he is world class or not, personally I find it difficult to read this and think of him as anything less.

https://www.skysports.com/cricket/news/11066/10703931/jonny-bairstows-all-round-record-breaking-2016-for-england

We are all selectors and if we all agreed life would be terribly dull  I do find it interesting how Bairstow divides opinion so much more than any other current player.

[cricketbadger]

Take into account his IPL experiences and playing in India, can't believe he hasn't gone.

[ppccopener]

I tend to agree with you and it is difficult to see where he fits into the current squad. In terms of whether he is world class or not, personally I find it difficult to read this and think of him as anything less.

https://www.skysports.com/cricket/news/11066/10703931/jonny-bairstows-all-round-record-breaking-2016-for-england

We are all selectors and if we all agreed life would be terribly dull  I do find it interesting how Bairstow divides opinion so much more than any other current player.

It's good there are different opinions on here as long as we don't get people deliberately winding people up which hopefully we won't that often.

England's keeping position and Bairstow probably have been the most discussed on here, batting wise there are Stokes and Root as our best and to be honest others are trying to establish themselves and find their way. We have have loads of different batsmen thru in the last 3-4 years, none of them so far really make themselves an automatic pick.

Personally I think Pope could be the best of the lot, at his age he is an outstanding prospect.