Illingworth tells England to show faith in Bairstow

The 23-year-old is expected to make his first Test appearance at his home ground of Headingley, alongside Yorkshire team-mate Joe Root, in the Investec second Test against New Zealand, which starts on Friday.

Illingworth is also hopeful that seam bowler Tim Bresnan will also get the nod ahead of Steven Finn to boost the White Rose representation to three.

Ashes-winning former England captain and one-time supremo Illingworth has been impressed by the start all three have made to the 2013 season, but feels clarity needs to be made regarding wicket-keeper batsman Bairstow’s position in the near future.

Illingworth feels Bairstow suffered due to England’s selection policy during a difficult winter in first India and then New Zealand.

The Bradford-born player batted only once in the four-Test series in the sub-continent, making nine in the second Test in Mumbai before losing his place because of perceived limitations on turning pitches.

Bairstow’s sole appearance in the three-match series against the Kiwis was in the decider in Auckland when he also failed with the bat twice, having played all but one of his seven Test appearances at No 6, which Illingworth feels is far from ideal.

With Matt Prior first-choice behind the stumps, the odds are on Bairstow having to wait further for his chance with the gloves, but Illingworth says the issue must be confronted soon.

On Bairstow, who also lost out to Jos Buttler in the wicketkeeping stakes in England’s Twenty20 series in New Zealand earlier this year, said: “I was very disappointed for Bairstow during the winter, when I thought he was trailed around unnecessarily. He also went out there as the leading (one-day) wicketkeeper and never kept wicket, which I thought was very poor.

“Test-wise, there is nothing worse for a young player than being trailed around and not playing. Getting knocks in the nets is a waste of time.

“It was the worst thing they could have done for him. I had a season like that in 1955 with Yorkshire and, at the end of the season, I was nowhere near as good a player as I was at the start.

“What they have got to do is make their mind up about him on the (Test) wicketkeeping job before long. He can’t play a long time without keeping wicket and then suddenly come back into keeping wicket.

“Long-term wise, there’s no reason why Bluey (Bairstow) shouldn’t take over from Prior. Batting at six will suit him if he is going to keep wicket as well.

“If he is not going to keep wicket, he needs to be in the first four as that is where you need to bat if you are to be a major batsman.

“You can only get away with batting down to five at Test match level (as a batsman), although (England) they are always going to play six batsmen, as they are frightened to death of playing an extra bowler. They will never change.”

Despite his longer-term concerns regarding Bairstow, Illingworth feels he and Root head into the Leeds Test in good form, with the pair top-scoring with 41 and 40, respectively, in the first innings at Lord’s.

Root also hit an impressive 71 in the second innings – his highest Test score to date – with the classy Sheffield-born batsman having scored 757 runs in six first-class innings this season at a stunning average of 126.17.

Illingworth added: “Bairstow has come back and got into good form early on and he and Root are both very, very good players; no doubt about that.

“Bairstow was unlucky in the second innings at Lord’s in getting bowled off his pads but these things happen sometimes.

“Root is playing magnificently and can’t do any better than he is doing. That’s the bottom line.

“He has just got to keep going and working hard and not get carried away.

“He looks to have a pretty good technique, although things will change and he will have his bad spells like every other cricketer has. But he does have everything going for him.

“He plays the ball very late and off the back foot quite a lot and allows himself a long time to see the ball and that’s always a good sign as a batsman.”

Illingworth feels Bresnan has a good chance of featuring at Headingley with the Leeds track potentially more conducive to his swing bowing than Finn’s hit-the-deck style.

Illingworth, who also feels England spin-king Graeme Swann could have a say at Headingley, said: “Bresnan has come back quite well after his arm injury and I actually think he might have a chance of playing at Headingley.

“I don’t think Finn bowled very well at Lord’s and needs a hard pitch, no doubt about it. When he has that, he generates lots of bounce and can be quite awkward.

“Headingley is a length and line wicket and, from what I have seen this year, they have been very good pitches. But there has been a little bit there if you persevere. If you bowl a little bit off line, though, you can get hammered.

“If you can bowl off-stump and keep a good length and line all the time, you will get a bit of reward.

“Bresnan is a good all-round cricketer who will always do a job for you. He has a big heart and he will come at you all day long and that’s worth a lot in cricket.

“One thing looking at this series now is that there’s going to be a heck of a lot of rough outside the off stump. The two left-arm over-the-wicket bowlers for New Zealand get near (the wicket) and Swann must have be crying his eyes out at not getting a bowl in the second innings.”