Bairstow boosts hopes of retaining Test berth

aSHARJAH: Jonny Bairstow was the biggest beneficiary on the opening day of England’s first warm-up match against Pakistan A, as he scored an unbeaten 66 to press his claims for retaining a spot in the Test side.
Alastair Cook, Joe Root and Adil Rashid also began with half-centuries, but Moeen Ali fell for 22 after being given the first chance to open. Jos Buttler also failed to do well.
Bairstow was given the opportunity at No. 5 ahead of James Taylor, who had been tipped for a spot after his successful one-day series against Australia and prowess against spin. But Bairstow, who returned to the Test side against Australia at Edgbaston, took his chance after a sticky start where he reached 11 off 46 balls before hitting his first boundary. He ended with 66 off 112 deliveries.
The most fluent batting of the day came during the unbroken 103-run stand in 24 overs between Bairstow and Rashid, the latter skipping to a 78-ball fifty.