Gerard Brophy has warned against raising expectations surrounding Yorkshire team-mate Jonny Bairstow.
The 22-year-old York-based wicketkeeper-batsman, pictured, will get the chance to continue his stunning start to his England one-day international career next month after he was yesterday named in the squad for the five-match series in India.
The national hype reached a deafening crescendo after a match- clinching 41 not out off 21 balls on debut against the Indians, the reigning world champions, at Cardiff earlier this month.
But Brophy, currently Bairstow’s understudy with the gloves at Yorkshire, said: “I’d just say to people ‘don’t get too carried away’.
“Jonny’s still a very young guy, and he needs time to get settled in at international level.
“There’s absolutely no doubt that he’s an exceptional talent, but there’s a danger of jumping on the bandwagon a little bit early.”
Bairstow walloped three sixes and a four at Cardiff just under a fortnight ago to seal a 3-0 series win and the man of the match award, earning widespread acclaim, most notably from England’s management duo Alastair Cook and Andy Flower.
“He was very impressive, and I’m absolutely delighted for him,” continued 35 year-old Brophy.
“But no one at Yorkshire’s surprised by what he’s done because we’ve seen him do it on quite a few occasions.
“He’s one of the best strikers of a ball on the county circuit. And, if he keeps working hard, gets his head down and doesn’t get ahead of himself, he’s got an absolutely fantastic future ahead of him.
“He got his opportunity with England due to a few injuries. When you get in any side, you’ve got to make it count. Jonny’s done that.
“When they get to India, because of what he did in the last one-day match, there’s no reason why they should leave him out.”
Bairstow toured Australia and the West Indies last winter with the England Performance Programme and Lions squads, but this will be his first senior tour abroad.
Brophy added: “I don’t think he’ll have been to India before on any tour.
“I’ve been a few times, and it’s not an easy place to tour by any means. It will be a great experience for him, and I can see him doing pretty well.”
Bairstow, who has also been named in the squad for the solitary Twenty20 international in Kolkata, will be joined in both parties by Yorkshire team-mate Tim Bresnan.
Kevin Pietersen has been recalled to the squad, but James Anderson has been rested from a line-up that includes uncapped Surrey pace bowler Stuart Meaker.
Meaker, 22, was called to the Oval last week to join with the squad in the nets and has done enough to impress the selectors.
England have five one-day matches against the world champions followed by a solitary Twenty20 match, with the tour getting under way with the first of two warm-up fixtures on October 8.
Jos Buttler of Somerset and Nottinghamshire’s Alex Hales will join the squad ahead of the Twenty20 fixture on October 29.
“This squad contains an exciting balance of experienced international cricketers along with some very talented younger players who can play the high quality limited overs cricket needed to challenge India,” said national selector Geoff Miller.
“A number of injuries and a decision to omit James Anderson in line with our policy of sensibly managing player workloads give opportunities for other very talented players to continue to develop as international cricketers.
“We had a promising one-day series win over India earlier this month and this squad will be looking forward to the challenge of continuing that success in the sub-continent over the next four weeks.
“The additions for the Twenty20 fixture will strengthen the squad.”
England squad for the limited-overs tour of India: A Cook (Essex, captain), J Bairstow (Yorkshire), I Bell (Warwickshire), R Bopara (Essex), S Borthwick (Durham), T Bresnan (Yorkshire), J Dernbach (Surrey), S Finn (Middlesex), C Kieswetter (Somerset), S Meaker (Surrey), S Patel (Nottinghamshire), K Pietersen (Surrey), G Swann (Nottinghamshire), J Trott (Warwickshire), C Woakes (Warwickshire). J Buttler (Somerset) and A Hales (Nottinghamshire) will join the squad for the T20 fixture.
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