Atherton makes bold statements on ‘Bairstow or Brook’ ahead of the 'new era in Test cricket'

England are taking on New Zealand in a three-match Test series, commencing this Thursday (June 2nd) at the Lord's Cricket Ground. 

Earlier this week, England and Wales Cricket Board announced a 13-man squad, where Durham's Matthew Potts and Yorkshire's Harry Brook were the two new faces in the England Test team, following their outstanding start of the summer. 

There is constant chaos going around about the newly selected Yorkshire batter, Harry Brook, as a probable starter in the first Test. The 23-year-old had a brilliant start to the County season, having scored 840 runs at an average of 140 with three centuries and five fifties. 

Only Kent's Ben Compton and Derbyshire's Shan Masood have scored more runs than the Yorkshireman this summer. However, with England likely to play Bairstow at five and Ollie Pope at three, Brook may have to wait for his turn for now. 

Although former England captain Michael Atherton believes Brook should be included in the playing XI ahead of Jonny Bairstow for the first match against the World Test Championship winners.

"I'd have to pick him ahead of Bairstow at No. 5, just because of the form he is in. His first-class form has been exceptional," Atherton told Sky Sports.

Meanwhile, Bairstow, who missed the county matches due to his commitments in the Indian Premier League, is all set to play the first Test of the summer after arriving back home from India. 

Bairstow, who was not a sure starter in the team till the Boxing Day Test in the Ashes, before scoring two consecutive centuries against Australia and West Indies, has made bold statements about his inclusion in the Playing XI.

"Needing time-off hasn't even come into my mind. Playing Test cricket is something I want to do. You know my desire to play for England and my desire to play Test cricket," Bairstow told Sky Sports. 

Anyways, the First Test against New Zealand on Thursday sees a start of a 'new era', with Ben Stokes leading England out for the first time as the permanent Test captain and Brendon McCullum starting his role as a head coach. 

Jonny Bairstow further reflected on the start of a new era under Stokes and McCullum. 

"First and foremost, it's about going out and winning key periods of the game and winning games of cricket. That's what we're here to do and what we want to be doing. But that takes time to play in that kind of fashion. We saw it with the white-ball side and how that transition took a little bit of time, the shift that took," he concluded.