Nottingham: England wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow could play as a specialist batsman in the fourth Test against India if he is cleared to return from a broken finger, head coach Trevor Bayliss said.

Bairstow fractured his left middle finger after being struck by the ball while keeping on Day III of the third Test at Trent Bridge, putting his participation in the match in Southampton starting on August 30 in doubt.

"We have got to check with the medical guys in the next few days. They're suggesting he may not be able to keep, but might be able to bat. We'll have to see how it responds," Bayliss told the British media.

England called up Hampshire batsman James Vince as cover on Thursday and wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler could once again take over behind the stumps if Bairstow cannot recover in time. Bayliss said Bairstow could also be asked to give up keeping duties completely after his injury has fully healed, to help him focus on his batting higher up the order.

"That'll be the hard thing, trying to convince Jonny," Bayliss added. "It will be a decision that's taken from the team's point of view. He is a world-class batsman and we know that... One of the difficult things might be to convince Jonny about that.

"If that was the way we went, it would certainly be a deep conversation. Jonny's a reasonable bloke... We know he wants to keep, but there would be a lot of explaining and chatting."

Bayliss came out in support of the woefully out-of-form Alastair Cook at a time when questions are being raised about his future, saying the left-hander is "striking" the ball as nicely as ever.

"Cooky has not changed his demeanour. You wouldn't know there was any difference between now and when he is scoring plenty of runs. He still practises as hard if not harder than anyone else.

"You watch him play at nets and he is actually striking the ball quite nicely. His feet move well. I wouldn't say he is out of form. He is still hitting the ball well... Just that he is out of runs in the middle.

"But he is giving himself every opportunity. He still plays an active role in his position in the team," Bayliss said.

One of England's major concerns is the form of both their openers. Cook has gone seven Test innings without a half-century, while Keaton Jennings - his 12th opening partner - is yet to cross that mark in his last 14 Test innings. The head coach, though, backed both of them to do the job in the remaining two Tests against India. "When he was with the Lions in Australia last year, it was about trying to get a little more flow to his batting.

"He is a very upright player, so he is probably never going to be one of those guys who gets well down over the front knee and sniffs the ball. It was about a little more rhythm.

"He has been working on his back lift to get a little more rhythm and flow. It's no easy task batting against these guys in these conditions. But that's the job of an opening batsman."

Agencies