England are set to keep faith with Jonny Bairstow for the fourth Test in Ranchi that begins on Friday, with Brendon McCullum, their head coach, planning to spend the short turnaround reminding the Yorkshireman of his talents. Reeling from a 434-run defeat in Rajkot – India registered their all-time record Test win by way of runs to take a 2-1 lead in the series – the tourists face the toughest challenge of their aggressive methods and loyalty in selection for a must-win fixture.
Bairstow, who lasted seven balls in his two innings in the third Test and registered a record eighth duck in India, is among the primary concerns; so, too, Joe Root who is having a similarly low-key tour. In the case of the former, the catalyst for England’s upturn in fortunes under McCullum and Ben Stokes in 2022, additional support is on the cards.
