Stewart says Bairstow was "wasted" at No 7 - and could bat higher than No 6
Friday 22 December 2017 15:41, UK
Tom Curran is a "big shout" for England for the fourth Ashes Test in Melbourne, according to Surrey director of cricket Alec Stewart.
Craig Overton has fractured a rib and Stuart Broad is battling a knee injury and Stewart thinks uncapped Surrey seamer Curran would prove "consistent" if he was drafted into the attack for Boxing Day.
England relinquished the Ashes following an innings and 41-run defeat in the third Test at the WACA, a result that gave Australia an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series.
"I think Curran is a big shout for the Melbourne Test if the reports on Overton's rib injury and Broad's knee mean changes are made," Stewart told Sky Sports' Cricket Report show.
"I know he has impressed the coaching staff in the short time he has been out there.
"He's not quick - he's an early 80mph bowler - but he will hopefully hit those consistent areas. If there is sideways movement, he is a handful."
England's pace attack has been outgunned by Australia's searing trio of Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
Stewart insists there are quick bowlers in county cricket who have the speed for the international game, including Warwickshire's Olly Stone and Barbados-born Sussex star Jofra Archer.
And he believes a tweak to the schedule, which would see County Championship games being played at the height of summer, could help generate more seamers with express pace.
"I saw Stone last year in a second-team game on a club surface and he was quick, so if I was England I'd be looking at him - is he fit and strong enough?" said Stewart.
"Mark Wood is in the set-up but has struggled with injury, while we have Stuart Meaker, who has been quick from when I first saw him as a 16-year-old - can he maintain that pace?
"You also have George Garton, the left-armer, and Archer at Sussex - Archer is not English-qualified yet but he has potential to be a quick bowler.
"If we potentially played more four-day cricket in July and August when the weather should be better and the pitches should be dryer, they could be quicker and involve spin.
"Then we may make it a better all-round game which prepares people more for international cricket away from home."
Stewart is also pleased that England have moved wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow up to the No 6 berth, believing it was "criminal" to "waste" him a spot lower at No 7.
And the former England gloveman says the current one - who hit his fourth Test century at the WACA and first against Australia - could even bat at four, a position Stewart favoured in his career.
"I think it's criminal Bairstow was batting at No 7 - you are wasting one of England's best players down there," he added.
"For people to say he bats nicely with the tail is ridiculous as he bats very nicely with the upper order as well. Six is the lowest I would have him and I'd even consider looking at him for four or five.
"My experience is that that is not too high for a keeper - I would have liked to have batted at four consistently if I was keeping wicket.
"I want him as high as possible because he is a run scorer and I'd much rather he creates big partnerships then tries to shepherd and shield a lower order that just gets blown away."
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