'He is a shadow of his best' - Geoffrey Boycott suggests England to drop Jonny Bairstow for fourth Test of Ashes 2023

England made a remarkable comeback in the Ashes 2023 as they beat Australia in the third Test by three wickets at Headingley, Leeds. The Ben Stokes-led side were set a target of 251 in the fourth innings which they managed to chase down on Day 4 courtesy of a splendid knock of 75 (93) by Harry Brook. After England’s emphatic win, the two teams will next head to Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester for the fourth Test beginning on July 19.

Ahead of another must-win game for England, former England cricketer Geoffrey Boycott has suggested a change in the playing XI. The legendary batter wants England to drop wicketkeeper batter Jonny Bairstow who’s been missing chances behind the stumps. Commenting on Bairstow’s flop show, Boycott said that he is lacking competitive cricket.

“He isn’t moving 100 per cent right and is short of competitive batting and wicketkeeping. He has been selected on last summer’s marvellous match-winning batting, but at this moment in time is a shadow of his best. In three Tests he has dropped catches, missed a stumping and can’t score any runs,” Boycott wrote in his column in The Telegraph.

In the six innings played in the series so far, Bairstow has scored 141 runs at an average of 23.50 with one fifty to his name. Apart from his low returns with the bat, he’s given several lives to Australian batters by missing chances.

Bazball got them in trouble and lost them two Tests: Boycott

Furthermore, speaking about England’s batting approach, Geoffrey Boycott said that he wants proper cricket from them and not 'Bazball' which got them in trouble in the first two Ashes Test matches.

“We don’t want to see scoop shots and ramping it over the keeper’s head. We want proper cricket. Bazball got them in trouble and lost them two Tests they should have won because they tried to be too clever. You cannot afford to be too clever against Australia. Make them bowl you out. Do not give your wickets away,” Boycott added. 

Meanwhile, England will look to continue their winning momentum and level the series in the fourth Test. On the other hand, Australia will be eager to win their first Ashes in England since 2001.