Bairstow Flies Home Ahead Of Second T20

Bairstow Flies Home Ahead Of Second T20

Jonny Bairstow (right) joins Steven Finn (left) in flying home early from the pre-Christmas leg of England's tour of India.

©REUTERS/Philip Brown. Picture Supplied by Action Images

Jonny Bairstow has become the latest England player to return home. The Yorkshire wicket-keeper, who was surprisingly not selected for the first Twenty20 International, which England lost yesterday, has gone home due to “family reasons”.

Bairstow has endured a difficult time in India and did not grab his chance when Ian Bell returned home during the second Test to be with his newborn child. He made just nine in that match and the next time there was spot available in England’s middle-order, for the fourth Test in Nagpur, was overlooked in favour of Joe Root.

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The second and final match in the Twenty20 International series is tomorrow in Mumbai and England will be pondering changes to a line-up that was thoroughly outclassed by the hosts. Joe Root’s inclusion at the expense of Michael Lumb is one possible change, while Danny Briggs’ place is also under threat. He could be replaced by James Harris.

England Twenty20 International squad: Eoin Morgan (captain), Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Jos Buttler, Jade Dernbach, Alex Hales, James Harris, Michael Lumb, Stuart Meaker, Samit Patel, Joe Root, James Tredwell, Luke Wright.

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