Johnny Bairstow boosts England chances
03/05/2012
Yorkshire youngster Johnny Bairstow boosted his chances of more England international action by scoring 182 in the County Championship match against Leicestershire at Scarborough.
The youngster's knock was the mainstay of the home side's first inning score of 447 and with several England batsmen making low scores as the bowler-dominated early season continues, such an innings may alert the selectors.
Bairstow has already played one-day international cricket, but middle order runs may increase his Test chances with a place potentially up for grabs after Eoin Morgan was dropped for the Sri Lanka tour.
Fans booking hospitality for August's Headingley Test, when England play South Africa, may be particularly keen to see Bairstow take the next step.
Morgan's place in Sri Lanka was taken by Samit Patel, but he failed to impress with the bat and his role was partly to provide the team with an extra spin option in turning conditions very different to those likely to be seen much in England this summer.
By Liz Johnstone
