Jonny Bairstow's surgeon feared England international would never play again following leg injury

In a freak accident while playing golf last summer, Bairstow sustained multiple broken bones and ligament damage in his leg and ankle. Surgeon James Calder had "severe reservations" about the 33-year-old's involvement in the Ashes

The surgeon who operated on Jonny Bairstow's leg feared the England international might never play cricket again, comparing the surgery to "putting Humpty Dumpty back together again".

After a blistering knock of 99 not out off only 81 balls at Old Trafford - his most impressive innings since his return from injury - Bairstow chose to hit back at his critics rather than revel in the glory of his innings.

Bairstow's place in the team had been questioned throughout the series, with critics suggesting that Ben Foakes could have performed better with the gloves. However, he told Sky Sports it is not a surprise he has not been perfect behind the stumps; the surprise is that he is able to play in the Ashes at all.

"I've not kept wicket for three years. I've got nine pins, a plate and a wire that goes through my ankle. It's part and parcel of it, I've had nine months out," he told Sky Sports.

"It's not the lack of overs. I'm still just 10 months post-operation right now. So, when you speak to the surgeon and he says, 'I'm surprised you're walking and running, never mind playing professional sport,' I'm delighted to be where I'm at."

^{Bairstow's wicketkeeping has been questioned throughout the Ashes [Stu Forster/Getty Images]}

^{Bairstow finished unbeaten on 99 during the fourth Test at Old Trafford [Clive Mason/Getty Images]}

Professor James Calder, an orthopaedic surgeon whose speciality lies with foot and ankle injuries, backed up Bairstow's comments, expressing his surprise at the speed of the 33-year-old's recovery after a freak golfing injury left him with multiple broken bones and ligament damage in his leg and ankle.

"I had severe reservations that he was going to play in the Ashes and even whether the injury was compatible with playing professional cricket," Calder told the Times.

"He had a severe lower-leg fracture dislocation. Multiple bones were broken in his leg and his ankle as well as ligaments, and it was like putting Humpty Dumpty back together again. He had to have plates, pins, keyhole surgery and ligament stabilisation.

"I was worried about whether he was actually going to get back to playing, and then we needed every single stage of the recovery to be on the time mark to make it back for the Ashes.

"I thought it would be a nine-month or 12-month recovery but my concern was whether he was going to get the strength back, the range back, the coordination back, and whether you keep everything else in his body up to speed so he could actually play cricket."

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