Jonny Bairstow blow as England prepare to stick with Ben Foakes as wicketkeeper for second Test

England look set to name an unchanged team for this week’s Second Test against Sri Lanka in Pallekele, meaning Jonny Bairstow would miss out despite making encouraging progress from an ankle injury.

It is understood England have decided to keep faith with Surrey’s Ben Foakes as wicketkeeper after a stunning Test debut in Galle that saw him score a first-innings century and excel with the gloves.

Bairstow, who is close to full fitness, still has an outside chance of returning to the team as a specialist batsman. The only way that could possibly happen is if England dropped a spinner, most likely Adil Rashid, at a venue that traditionally offers more to seam bowlers than elsewhere in Sri Lanka.

But with the pitch at Pallekele much drier than expected, England look set to retain three spinners, meaning no place for Bairstow, and keep the same XI in Galle that sealed England’s first overseas win in more than two years.

That is also bad news for Stuart Broad, who would have expected to come into serious contention for the Second Test after being dropped for the series opener.

The show of faith in Foakes is a body blow to Bairstow, who after three years as England’s Test keeper now looks like he will have to reinvent himself as a specialist batsman to find a way into the team.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Surrey’s director of cricket, Alec Stewart, said: “Foakes is the best wicketkeeper, not just in England but in the world. Jos Buttler is very good, Bairstow is very good, but Foakes is the best and, therefore, Foakes will keep the gloves.

“Jonny, whether he plays or not, has to accept that until Foakes gets injured or messes up that he is the back-up wicketkeeper-batsman and he’s now going to have to think as a frontline batter.”

It is a position that Buttler, England’s white-ball keeper, found himself in when he was recalled to the Test team as a specialist batsman at the start of last summer. Buttler is now in contention to bat at No3 in the Second Test ahead of Moeen Ali, who made just three runs in the position at Galle.

Alec Stewart, Surrey director of cricket

“Yes, I do fancy it,” said Buttler. “I think here you’re likely to start your innings against spin, so what number you bat isn’t necessarily going to change your style. It’s down to me to make sure I’m prepared to bat wherever.”

Meanwhile, England’s women were left hoping the weather improves for their World T20 game against Bangladesh in St Lucia this evening after the ICC opted against moving their whole group to Antigua to escape the rain.

England’s opener against Sri Lanka was washed out on Saturday. West Indies beat Bangladesh a day earlier in Guyana, but the remaining Group A matches are scheduled in St Lucia, where the ICC say there was 40 per cent more rain in the first 10 days of November than is expected in the entire month. As a result they considered moving the group to Antigua, where the knockouts will take place, but have decided against that.

“Our priority is to do everything we can to play cricket and as such, in light of the forecast in St Lucia, we explored alternative options for Group A games,” said Chris Tetley, the ICC’s head of events. “After considering a range of factors, including a detailed analysis of weather forecasts in both St Lucia and Antigua and an inspection of the square and outfield in Antigua, we have taken the decision to continue as scheduled.

Whilst the pitch in Antigua is in good condition, there is no guarantee that moving away from St Lucia will put us in a better position. The weather is forecast to improve and we will continue to support the local ground staff in their preparation of playing surfaces.”

If every match in the group was washed out, England would qualify for the semi-finals because they are second seeds in Group A behind holders West Indies.

England coach Mark Robinson acknowledged his side’s lack of preparation since arriving in St Lucia meant they would be “going in a bit blind” to today’s match. Nevertheless, Heather Knight’s side should still prove too strong for ninth-ranked Bangladesh.