Kumar Sangakkara comments on Jonny Bairstow’s wicketkeeping woes. While Sangakkara recognizes the challenges of maintaining wickets in England, he expects Bairstow to work harder to enhance his skills.
In the third and deciding Test match of the series. Australia and England shared the spoils on an entertaining first day at Headingley. Former Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batter and icon Kumar Sangakkara has rushed to Jonny Bairstow’s aid after he dropped two catches on the first day in Leeds.
Jonny Bairstow’s Ashes campaign isn’t going as smoothly as he’d hoped, as the wicketkeeper-batter came under scrutiny again following a lackluster performance behind the stumps on the first day of the Headingley Test. Earlier in the day, the energetic batter lost a big opportunity on Steve Smith before botching a routine take to dismiss Travis Head.
Despite the fact that the two mistakes did not cost the home team anything, former Sri Lankan cricketer Kumar Sangakkara wants more from the Yorkshireman. While Sangakkara recognizes the challenges of maintaining wickets in England, he expects Bairstow to work harder to enhance his skills.
“I understand that the conditions in England are not as easy when it comes to fast bowling with the wobble.” Having said that, Jonny Bairstow is a good ‘keeper, and we’ve been analyzing his technique in seven different ways since Sunday, based on the games he’s played. But it’s fair criticism in the way he’s kept; he needs to train harder to gain more confidence and rhythm in his keeping since his job is critical,” Sangakkara remarked on Sky Sports.
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England’s day to forget on the field
It is worth mentioning that England has a first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in the wings in Ben Foakes. While Bairstow accuse of having butter fingers, England’s former captain Joe Root had a nightmare day in Leeds. Root, who has one of England’s safest pairs of hands, lost a couple catches, including one of Mitchell Marsh. Marsh’s failed catch proved costly. As the Australian all-rounder went on to slam a century after being drop after only 12 runs.
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