"If you look at the stats they suggest I'm better if I keep wicket as well. I don't know why." When asked if he would give up keeping, both in the short or long term, for England's benefit, Bairstow replied, "I don't know what the conversations are that are going to be had but it's a difficult one because you put so much hard work into keeping wicket over a long sustained period of time. "It would be like saying do you want to give up your laptop and write everything free hand again."

England lead the five-match series 2-1. They won at Edgbaston and Lord's but India fought back at Trent Bridge. "There were a lot of questions asked in my early career as a keeper. I remember being asked time and again whether I want to do it and for the last couple of years I don't think my keeping has been questioned once."

Poll

Who will win the Punjab Elections?

BJP 32.86%

AAP 41.43%

INC 25.71%

Submit

View All In Poll

He added that playing as a specialist batsman, he wouldn't like to bat higher than his current position of number five. A green-top wicket is expected for this match with concerns over both Chris Woakes (right quadriceps) and Ben Stokes (left knee).

"In the last Test played here (in 2014) we had a comprehensive win so we'll turn up fully confident and excited after a few days off. We're raring to go." "It might not harm us not to put in our best performance halfway through the series because it makes us want to come back and put the record straight," Bairstow said.

There are concerns over the top-order's form and questions have been asked of Alastair Cook, but like others before him, Bairstow too defended the senior batsman. "Every time he is criticised, he goes out and gets a double hundred' that's absolutely fine. There have been murmurs and whispers about it but like I keep saying he's the leading run-scorer in England's history for a reason.

"There's no question about when he's going to score runs - that is going to happen. Look you're going to come up against bowling attacks on some favourable conditions. But that happens, that's cricket."

Catch up on all the latest sports news and updates here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever