England kept faith with Bairstow in the squad for the Fourth Ashes Test

Johnny Bristow

• [ويكتكيبر]England[جونّي][برستو]Kent for next week has held fourth Test Ashes against Australia.
• The host nation has selected the same group for next Wednesday’s match in Manchester.
• There were calls for Surreyy’s Ben Foakes to replace Bairstow, who had faced a difficult series behind the stumps.

England have kept faith with Jonny Bairstow as the wicket-keeper has retained his place in the 14-man squad for the Fourth Test next week against Australia.

Bairstow endured a difficult series behind the stumps, missing eight chances in the first three Tests.

There were calls for Ben Foakes of Surrey to replace Bairstow as wicket-keeper, but captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum remain supportive of the Yorkshire player.

After winning the Third Test at Leeds by three wickets on Sunday to keep their Ashes hopes alive, England have named the same kit for next Wednesday’s match in Manchester.

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The hosts are trailing 2-1 with two Tests to play as they look to win the Ashes for the first time since 2015.

Stokes hailed Foakes as the best wicket-keeper in the world, but the 30-year-old missed the start of the season when Bairstow returned after breaking his leg in a freak accident while playing golf.

Bairstow hasn’t looked sharp since recovering from three separate fractures to his left leg, ligament damage and a dislocated ankle.

He was England’s Test bowler of 2022, setting the tone for the ‘Bazball’ era with four hundreds.

But Bairstow only impressed once with the bat in this Ashes series, making 78 on the first day of the series.

Ollie Robinson also takes his place in the team despite back spasms making him a peripheral figure in the previous game.

Robinson is being watched by the medical staff, but is favored to make room for England scoring return James Anderson at home in Lancashire.

Anderson was rested for the Third Test after struggling to make an impact in the first two amid suggestions the 40-year-old was becoming a fading force.