The England and Wales Cricket Board, on Thursday, announced its central contracts and excluded Jonny Bairstow from the red-ball deal for the 2020-21 season. However, the board director Ashley Giles has backed the star wicketkeeper-batsman to be back in England cricket’s Test setup.
Bairstow, who is now in UAE playing the IPL for Sunrisers Hyderabad, has not been included in the England Cricket Board’s Test central contract for the subsequent year(2020/2021). He last appeared for England in a Test match in December 2019 when they were touring South Africa.
“I hope this leaves him [Bairstow] still hungry to have a big role in Test cricket,” said Giles, as quoted by Guardian.
Ashley Giles has also backed the board’s financial decision keeping the ongoing uncertainty in mind. ECB is still holding talks over pay cuts with its central contracted players.
“Although the players have been in a bubble for the majority of the summer they are not blind to the reality of what is going on in the world. They understand they have a part to play in that,” he added.
“The players have done a huge amount this summer to, in effect, keep the lights on for cricket but they are mature and realistic about what is going on. The discussions have been really positive and I’m confident we are close now.”
