Jonny Bairstow was dropped, and England challenged him to ‘fight back’ and rediscover his most devastating form from before his awful leg injury.

Title: England Challenges Jonny Bairstow to Regain Form and Fitness for International Return

In a bid to revive the international career of one of their most destructive players, England have issued a challenge to Jonny Bairstow to regain the form and fitness that made him a dominant force in world cricket. The 34-year-old Bairstow, who suffered a serious leg injury while playing golf two years ago, has been dropped from the national team’s white-ball squads for the upcoming series against Australia.

According to national selector Luke Wright, Bairstow was “hugely disappointed” by his exclusion, but the selectors have made it clear that his England career is far from over. “That’s not the case,” said Wright. “We just want him back to being one of the best players in the world. He had that horrific injury, and that’s been the message: can we get you back to where you were pre-injury?”

The swift rise of young talents like Jamie Smith has all but closed the door on a Test return for Bairstow, who won his 100th cap for England in Dharamsala back in March. However, the selectors remain optimistic that the experienced Bairstow can regain his form and fitness to reclaim his place in the limited-overs squads.

“He understands that, but he doesn’t like it. One thing he will do is fight back, and I hope he does and gets himself back in the team. I’m certainly not going to write Jonny off,” Wright said, highlighting the selectors’ belief in Bairstow’s ability to bounce back.

In the meantime, Phil Salt has emerged as the preferred opening partner for captain Jos Buttler in the limited-overs formats. However, there is a possibility that Buttler may relinquish the wicket-keeping duties during the upcoming T20 series against Australia, with Salt likely to step in.

“It’s something Jos is open to,” revealed Wright. “He’s spoken about that before, the need to be in the field and be with the bowlers at times.”

The potential retirement of Dawid Malan, who is expected to announce his decision to step away from international cricket tomorrow, could also open up opportunities for other players in the England setup. Malan, 36, has been a mainstay in the team, averaging 55 in ODIs, the fifth-highest in history. However, his international career has been affected by England’s disastrous 50-over World Cup campaign in India over the winter.

As England look to the future, the challenge for Jonny Bairstow remains clear: regain the form and fitness that made him one of the game’s most destructive players, and force his way back into the national team’s plans. With the selectors’ backing and Bairstow’s renowned determination, there is a strong belief that the experienced batsman can achieve this goal and reclaim his rightful place in the England side.