PAUL NIXON: Bairstow's mistakes will stop if he can get footwork right

PAUL NIXON: Jonny Bairstow’s mistakes will stop if he can get his footwork right… he has done some really good things with the gloves despite the errors

• Jonny Bairstow can perform with more consistency if he improves his footwork 
• Despite the mistakes that he has made, Bairstow has done some good things 
• Bairstow was out for a long time with injury and needs to build up momentum 

Jonny Bairstow has faced a real test of his character in this Ashes. To keep wicket for England when you don’t do it day in, day out is a tough job and when the ball is thundering through at 95mph, as it was from Mark Wood at Headingley, it’s particularly challenging.

The whole world has been watching when Bairstow has made mistakes and I have felt for him. But he has done some really good things with the gloves, too.

We have to remember Jonny was out for a long time with injury and it seems he has not had enough repetitions of those power positions — when you are crouched down and ready to spring up — movement and foot positioning.

This England attack provide different challenges for a keeper. Chris Woakes swings it away but also has his wobble seam ball that nips back with an over-the-top action.

Stuart Broad goes a bit wider and that can drag the keeper’s weight inside, down leg side, so you have to be really strong and keep your head on the outside edge. 

If Jonny Bairstow can get his footwork right then he will be able to cut out the errors

And for Wood’s extra pace it’s easy to make the mistake of standing a bit taller because you’re deeper. You have to challenge yourself to stay in that power position longer.

There has been an excessive amount of seam movement and swing after the ball has gone past the bat during this series and with the wobble seam delivery, shaping it back in off the seam, your foot movement has to be particularly good.

We all think of Bairstow as this strong, dominant batsman in the perfect mould for the terrific way England are playing but you can take confidence into your batting from your keeping and there are signs that Jonny is low on that confidence.

After Ollie Pope got injured in the second Test I would have brought Ben Foakes back

But what is pleasing as a coach is that he’s never actually looked out of nick with the bat and he’s been a bit unlucky with a couple of drag-ons. His balance has remained good and he’s not falling over so the alarm bells are not ringing yet for me.

After Ollie Pope got injured in the second Test at Lord’s, I would have moved Jonny up to No 3 and brought Ben Foakes back but I can fully understand why England went the way they did. They have to take 20 wickets and Moeen Ali is one of the biggest spinners of the ball we’ve got.

Keepers get their rhythm from the bowlers and understanding their mindsets. Once they are in that rhythm, they will make fewer and fewer mistakes.

I’ve no doubt that will be the case with Jonny in the last two Tests as long as his confidence hasn’t been too badly hit.

Once Bairstow manages to get into his rhythm he will make fewer and fewer mistakes

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