Bairstow earns call for first ODI with India
England picked Jonny Bairstow for his second one-day international, at Ian Bell’s expense, as they began their bid to win a limited-overs series in India for the first time since 1984/85.
Alastair Cook’s team, out to follow up their 3-0 NatWest Series victory at home to India, also included Kevin Pietersen.
The mercurial middle-order strokeplayer, rested for last month’s success against these same opponents, was listed to bat at number four in the first match of five at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium.
Bairstow, who made himself a near certain selection with a 53-ball century in England’s second and final warm-up match on Tuesday, was at six.
His fellow Yorkshireman Tim Bresnan was also in the XI.