Jonny Bairstow will forego this year’s Indian Premier League to focus on preparing for the Ashes as he continues his recovery from a broken leg sustained last summer.
Bairstow missed the entire winter – a T20 World Cup victory and Test tours of Pakistan and New Zealand – after suffering multiple fractures, a dislocated ankle, and ligament damage from a freak accident on the golf course in September. He was one of the primary catalysts for the Test team’s surging turnaround in results.
The 33-year-old’s left limb was successfully operated on, including the insertion of a metal plate. And he has made encouraging recent progress. After returning to outdoor exercise a month ago, Bairstow has recently resumed hitting balls in the nets.
The IPL, which starts on 31 March and runs through May, is expected to start too soon. His franchise, Punjab Kings, would be required to hold an overseas slot open until the middle of the tournament. Therefore, Bairstow is anticipated to return to playing for Yorkshire.
In December, England’s Test coach Brendon McCullum said Bairstow would resume when fully recovered.
Since then, both he and captain Ben Stokes have acknowledged that a significant selection dilemma will result. As they prepare for an Ashes campaign that begins on 16 July at Edgbaston.
Bairstow positively shone with form in the middle order last season, scoring four centuries in five innings against New Zealand and India, living out the positivity ordered by Stokes and McCullum, and kicking off the team’s run of 10 victories in 12 Test matches.
Bairstow’s fellow Yorkshireman, Harry Brook, deputized at number five for the last six of those matches in similarly jaw-dropping fashion, scoring four centuries in his first six appearances and being hailed as a generational talent.
As a result, a reorganization of the batting order will be necessary. And all eyes will be on Bairstow’s domestic return to see if he can provide an alternative route. After the 1-1 draw in New Zealand, McCullum said, “We can’t force people in.”
Stokes is heading to the IPL despite concerns regarding the knee injury that limited his bowling role in New Zealand. Mark Wood and Jofra Archer, his two quickest bowlers, also have contracts. And Brook and Joe Root, his other recent Test players, will depart for the two-month tournament by the end of the week.
