Former England all-rounder Vic Marks has warned Jonny Bairstow that he will face a step up in quality as he prepares to face Australia in the third Ashes Test tomorrow.
Bairstow has been recalled in place of Gary Ballance on the back of his fine county form, but Marks insists that he still has weaknesses in his game.
He wrote in The Guardian: "The Australia attack is a step up from anything Bairstow has been facing recently. The two big Mitchells – Starc and Johnson – with a little help from the little Mitchell – Marsh – and Josh Hazlewood, will swing the ball at him to a full length to test out whether Bairstow is still prone to whip it towards midwicket before he is properly set.
"They will bounce him too, mindful of his early problems in Test cricket against the West Indian duo of Kemar Roach and Tino Best. At his best, and most uncluttered, Bairstow is far more likely to cope now. However, the transition to Test level can be more difficult for a batsman with maverick tendencies than for the more orthodox player."
Bairstow averages 22 in six previous Tests against Australia.
Charlie Bennett
