Jonny Bairstow has hit out at a "ridiculous" rumour which apparently circulated on WhatsApp about the freak injury he suffered while playing golf which has ruled him out of the third Test between England and South Africa and the T20 World Cup.
The ECB revealed on Friday that Bairstow had sustained a "lower limb injury in a freak accident whilst playing golf", with the 32-year-old later saying he had slipped over on the golf course and would need an operation. A rumour then emerged claiming Bairstow had been playing with England Test captain Ben Stokes and the pair had a wager going for a large amount of money.
However, Bairstow has refuted the claims, stating that he has not seen Stokes since the second Test against South Africa ended and that he would never wager money on a game of golf, joking that he is a "tight Yorkshireman".
In a post on his Instagram story over the weekend, Bairstow wrote: "For reference re: the ridiculous voice note I've been sent… I've never played at Ganton… Haven't seen Ben since the end of the last Test…
"I was near home playing with two friends… And finally… I wouldn't play for a cheese and ham toastie never mind anything else as I am a tight Yorkshireman!"
Bairstow's injury means Ben Duckett has been added to England's Test squad, almost six years after playing the last of his four Test matches. Duckett starred for the England Lions last month as they beat South Africa by an innings and 56 runs in a warm-up match, striking a brilliant 145 off just 168 balls while batting at number five.
However, Yorkshire star Harry Brook appears to be a more likely replacement for Bairstow, having been the spare batter in every England Test squad so far this summer. The 23-year-old also struck a century in the warm-up match against South Africa, making 140 off 170 balls, and has scored 967 runs at an average of 107.44 in the County Championship this season.
The series is evenly poised at 1-1, with both sides winning a Test match inside three days ahead of the decider at the Oval. Speaking after England drew level at Old Trafford, Stokes said: "To come back from last week's disappointment at Lord's to put in the performance we have this week, it obviously gives us a lot of confidence back and sets the series up nicely for the last game at the Oval.
"We completely forgot about that performance [at Lord's]. The way we batted, bowled and fielded in this game was the benchmark of the standards we set."
