Wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow is confident that England won’t panic even if they lose to Pakistan in the second Test, starting on Friday at Old Trafford.
The hosts are 1-0 down in the four-match Test series after they suffered a 75-run defeat against Misbahul Haq and his men on Sunday.
“I wouldn’t say panic, no there will still be two more games to go. It wouldn’t be panic stations, at all, by any means,” said Bairstow.
Pacer James Anderson, leggie Adil Rashid and all-rounder Ben Stokes were called into the squad for the second Test and Bairstow believes some players will be dropped to make room for them.
“14 into 11 doesn’t go so there’s going to be some desperately disappointed guys that miss out for those spots come Friday morning,” said Bairstow.
He professed hope that he will be a part of the final 11 against Pakistan at Old Trafford. “I’m just trying to concentrate on training and hopefully getting in that final 11 for the game on Friday,” he said. “It shows the strength in depth that we’ve got throughout all three formats of the game.”
The 26-year-old believes England will need to stand up to the Pakistan and set the record straight in the second Test.
“We’ve got to go out there and put the record straight,” he said. “We were slightly behind the eight ball pretty much all the way through. It’s a case of going out there, expressing ourselves and really just going out and attacking the challenge.”
Meanwhile, talking about Pakistan leggie Yasir Shah, who bagged 10-for in the first Test, Bairstow said he is focusing on the challenge he will present in the next three matches.
“We gave him some soft wickets at Lord’s,” said Bairstow. “It will be a good challenge. There’s no reason why we can’t go into Old Trafford, into Edgbaston and into The Oval and nullify that threat.”