England middle-order batter Jonny Bairstow is a doubtful starter for the opening T20 International against South Africa here later on Wednesday after the 32-year-old was seen doing an unusual training drill that saw him carrying team-mate Sam Curran on his shoulders, according to a report in Daily Mail.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The report said Bairstow was filmed carrying Curran on his shoulders "while doing lunges", adding the all-format player had potentially sustained a right knee injury.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Bairstow was reportedly seen leaving training in discomfort with ice packs and his left knee heavily strapped.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
However, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has not given an update on whether he will be in the playing XI for the T20I game or not against the Proteas.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
With back-to-back T20Is lined up, it would be no surprise to see Bairstow being left out of the playing XI on Wednesday, the report said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Bairstow had said recently he wants to play all three formats of the game for "as long as possible", despite his team-mate, all-rounder Ben Stokes retiring from ODI cricket at the age of 31 and Australia batter Usman Khawaja admitting that it is tough playing all formats in international cricket.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
On Wednesday an Instagram video shared by pace-bowling teammate Reece Topley gave a likely clue of what might have caused the injury to Bairstow. In the video shared by Topley, Curran can be seen draped over Bairstow's back as the charismatic batter completes a "walking lunge in the gym".<\/p>\r\n\r\n