Alec Stewart: 'Jonny Bairstow deserves his chance'

Former England batsman Alec Stewart has revealed that he believes Jonny Bairstow deserves his chance to play in The Ashes.

The 25-year-old has replaced Gary Ballance in the Three Lions' batting lineup, but will come in at number five as Ian Bell shifts to number three, while Joe Root will operate at number four.

Stewart feels that Bairstow's form was too hard for the selectors to ignore given England's struggles with the bat, although he is wary of how he will fare against the pace of Australia's bowlers.

He told Sky Sports News: "Bairstow comes in at number five, purely because the selectors are always saying they're looking at county cricket, and Bairstow's been in sensational form.

"He's earned the right to be selected, then you just hope he can deal with the excess pace of Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson. We don't see 90 miles-per-hour bowlers in county cricket."

The third Test begins at Edgbaston on July 29.