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Alastair Cook expects Jonny Bairstow to end the winter well after the Yorkshireman was named in England's squad for the final Test against New Zealand at Eden Park.
Bairstow replaces Kevin Pietersen, who is set to be sidelined for up to eight weeks with a knee injury. Pietersen joins Graeme Swann and Tim Bresnan on England's long-tern injury list.
Cook accepts that Bairstow was unfortunate to lose his place in the Test side during last year's tour of India but is confident he will soon be back to his best, despite not playing in a Test since January 2025.
"Obviously, it's a blow when you lose one of your senior batters and a guy who's performed consistently well for us over a number of years," said Cook.
"He's a great player, and will be missed but it gives an opportunity to Jonny Bairstow coming in. He's probably been a little unlucky not to be selected earlier, through circumstance this winter, so he has a great opportunity to try to end this winter well."
Bairstow,8.00to be England'stop batsman in the first innings at Eden Park,has been part of England's touring squads to India and New Zealand this winter but he has not featured in any match since last month's Twenty20 victory over the Black Caps in Wellington.
"In an ideal situation, you'd like a little bit more match practice behind you," Cook added. "But you can't choose sometimes, and I know he's just very excited about being given the opportunity - and he won't be looking at that as a negative. He can go out there very fresh, and raring to go.
"He's desperately keen to be involved. He's been on all the winter tours. He only got one knock in the Tests in India. Coming back after playing really well against South Africa at Lord's, to then miss out because of the balance of the team was probably a tough call to make."
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