'World-class' Bairstow could play fourth Test as specialist batsman

Bairstow broke his finger in the third Test at Trent Bridge while fulfilling duties behind the stumps during India's second innings, and Jos Buttler donned the gloves for the remainder of the Test.

"I think keeping in the next game will probably be the most difficult (for Bairstow)," Bayliss said of Bairstow, who did come out to bat in the final innings but was bowled for a first-ball duck by Jasprit Bumrah.

"We've got to check with the medical guys in the next few days. They are suggesting he may not be able to keep but might be able to bat. We'll have to see how it responds."

Bayliss praised Bairstow for the improvements he has made since stepping in for Matt Prior as England's wicket-keeper during the 2013-14 Ashes series, but he also anticipated that the Yorkshireman might be reluctant to pass on keeping responsibilities.

"That'll be the hard thing, trying to convince Jonny. That will be a decision that is taken from the team point of view. He is a world-class batter, we know that, one of the difficult things might be convincing Jonny of that. I think he has improved his keeping over the last couple of years from where he was say when we were in South Africa. He's aware of that. He's done some hard work," said Bayliss.

If picked exclusively as a batsman, Bairstow might rise in the order to No.4, which begs the question: might his best position be as a specialist batter? Bayliss suggested that should this conversation ever arise, then Bairstow's Test career longevity will be of most importance.

"If that was the way we went, it would certainly be a deep conversation," Bayliss said. "Jonny's a reasonable bloke. If that's the way we wanted to go… in the long run, he wants to play Test cricket. We know he wants to keep but there would be a lot of explaining and chatting."

Discussing the prospect of Buttler keeping wicket in the fourth Test, Bayliss said, "Jos will have to do some hard work as well. He's been keeping a lot in one-day cricket but keeping 100 overs a day can be difficult, day after day, Test after Test. There are other options out there as well."

If Bairstow were to play as a specialist batsman, then 20-year old Ollie Pope, who made his debut for England in the second Test at Lord's, might drop down the order to a more familiar spot at No.5 or No.6, according to Bayliss. He's only managed 54 runs in the three innings that he has had in an England shirt so far, but they are all from No.4.

"He's (Pope) batted no higher than six for Surrey so it was a big ask to come into international cricket and bat four but the short times he's been at the crease showed that he might be a good international cricketer," Bayliss said. "We would have probably liked to have started him off down a bit lower but the hole was at No.4. Obviously, Jonny is an option there as well which might allow Ollie to drop a little lower. These are all things we've discussed."

The fourth Test between England and India commences on Thursday 30 August.