'Hope this leaves him still hungry': ECB director Ashley Giles on Jonny Bairstow’s Test contract snub
Jonny Bairstow has been excluded from the Test contract for 2020-21 season which was announced by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), on Thursday.
Jonny Bairstow has been excluded from the Test contract for 2020-21 season which was announced by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), on Thursday.
However, the board director Ashley Giles has backed the star wicketkeeper-batsman to be back in England's red-ball setup.
Bairstow - who is currently in UAE playing the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) - had last appeared for England in a Test match in December 2019 when they were touring South Africa.
Bairstow had only managed scores of 1 and 9 after which he did not play any Test for England. In the same tour, he sat out for the rest of the series and has missed 12 Tests since.
“I hope this leaves him [Bairstow] still hungry to have a big role in Test cricket,” said Giles, as quoted by Guardian.
Ashley Giles, however, also backed the board’s financial decision. ECB is still holding talks over pay cuts with its central contracted players.
“Although the players have been in a bubble for the majority of the summer they are not blind to the reality of what is going on in the world. They understand they have a part to play in that,” he added.
“The players have done a huge amount this summer too, in effect, keep the lights on for cricket but they are mature and realistic about what is going on. The discussions have been really positive and I’m confident we are close now.”
As for other players, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope and Dom Sibley have all earned their maiden Test contract.
Surrey all-rounder Tom Curran has progressed to a White Ball Central Contract, having been in possession of an Increment Contract for 2019/20, according to the official statement.
The selectors have awarded 12 Test Central Contracts and 12 White Ball Central Contracts, as well as four Increment Contracts and three Pace Bowling Development Contracts.
Dom Bess, Chris Jordan, Dawid Malan and Jack Leach have received Increment Contracts, with Saqib Mahmood, Ollie Stone and Craig Overton retaining their Pace Bowling Development Contracts.