PURE GOLD VALLEY

Bairstow passed fit for England

Jonny Bairstow has been passed fit to play for England against Mumbai A in a three-day match beginning on Saturday, meaning Matt Prior may be rested.

Yorkshire's Bairstow, England's reserve wicketkeeper on the tour of India, was struggling with a thigh injury.

But his fitness means first-choice wicketkeeper Prior may be able to sit out before returning for the final warm-up match against Haryana.

"If Prior ends up having to play over the next three days, he will have had a hefty workload before the Test series even begins."

The first Test of the four-match series begins in Ahmedabad on 15 November.

While Bairstow's fitness will come as a boost to England, doubts remain over fast bowler Steven Finn, who suffered a thigh strain in the first warm-up match against India A.

Scans showed no serious injury but England are worried he may not recover in time for the first Test.

However, former England paceman Steve Harmison believes Finn will not be part of England's first-choice XI for the Test series, even if he is fit.

"The three best seamers that England have had have been Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad and James Anderson," Harmison told BBC Radio 5 live.

"When Bresnan wasn't in the team, Finn bowled extremely well, but we also saw just how much Bresnan was missed."

30 Oct-1 Nov: drew with India A, Mumbai

3-5 Nov: v Mumbai A, Mumbai

8-11 Nov: v Haryana, Ahmedabad

15-19 Nov: 1st Test, Ahmedabad

23-27 Nov: 2nd Test, Mumbai

5-9 Dec: 3rd Test, Kolkata

13-17 Dec: 4th Test, Nagpur

20 Dec: 1st T20 international, Pune

22 Dec: 2nd T20 international, Mumbai

11 Jan: 1st ODI, Rajkot

15 Jan: 2nd ODI, Kochi

19 Jan: 3rd ODI, Ranchi

23 Jan: 4th ODI, Dharamsala

27 Jan: 5th ODI, Mohali

Uncapped Nick Compton opened the batting for England in the draw with India A, but the Somerset man could only manage a three-ball duck.

Yorkshire's Joe Root is another option to open alongside captain Alastair Cook in the Test series, but Harmison said Compton should be given an extended run in the side.

"Give the kid a chance," added the Durham bowler, who took 226 wickets in 63 Tests between 2002 and 2009.

"If Nick Compton is going to be given the chance to open the batting with Alastair Cook, he's got to be given these four Test matches in India and the rest of the winter."

Harmison also believes that all-rounder Samit Patel's century in the warm-up match does not end fellow spinner Monty Panesar's chances of playing in the first Test in Ahmedabad.

Patel, who made a hundred batting a number six, also provides a bowling option with his left-arm spin.

The pair are battling to partner first-choice spinner Graeme Swann, and Harmison continued: "It all depends on the wicket in Ahmedabad.

"If it looks like it will spin, then they will go with their two best spinners, meaning Monty will come in. We'll see how Monty goes in the next warm-up game, because I'm sure he'll play."

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