That is according to England's chief selector, Luke Wright, following the decision to leave Bairstow out of the squad to face Australia in a limited-overs series next month.
Bairstow has missed out on England's first white-ball series since the T20 World Cup, with fellow veteran campaigners Chris Jordan and Moeen Ali also left out.
But Wright says the door remains open for Bairstow, if the 34-year-old can play his way back into the form he showed before sustaining a broken leg while golfing in 2022.
"One of Jonny's great strengths is how much he wants to play," said Wright. "He's hugely disappointed.
"We just want him back to being one of the best players in the world. He had that horrific injury, and that’s been the message. Can we get you back to where you were pre-injury?
"He understands that. He doesn’t like it. One thing Jonny will do is fight back, and I hope he does and gets himself back in the team."
Wright is hoping the refreshing of England's squad in the wake of their T20 World Cup disappointment helps spur Jos Buttler's team on, with coach Matthew Mott having also left after that tournament.
"The one thing we don't lack in England is the amount of talent that's around," Wright said.
"More than anything, the character these young players show in taking the game on.
"What a great time to be in English cricket."
England's Test team, meanwhile, have made one alteration to the team that featured in the first match against Sri Lanka, ahead of the second contest of the series, with Olly Stone replacing the injured Mark Wood.
Powell smashed 56 from just 22 balls to power Northern Warriors to 128-6 from their 10 overs. The Jamaican all-rounder, the leading run-scorer in the tournament with 238 runs, smashed five sixes and four fours as he and Ross Whiteley hit the Delhi Bulls bowlers to all parts.
They were particularly severe on Romario Shepherd, who took 1-42 from his two overs. In Shepherd’s second over that went for 25 runs, he was hit for three consecutive sixes by Powell, who now has a tournament-leading 20 sixes.
Whiteley joined in the carnage hitting the last ball of the Shepherd over for six.
Together, they added 66 in just 19 balls for the fourth wicket partnership after the Warriors had lost the wickets of Kennar Lewis (0), Moeen Ali (10) and Samit Patel (13) with just 34 runs on the board by the fifth over.
Shiraz Ahmed, who eventually got Powell out, was the best of the bowlers with 2-22 from two overs.
In their turn at bat, the Bulls made a mockery of the chase as Rahmanullah Gurbaz destroyed the Warriors’ bowling. He smashed six fours and fives sixes on his way to 70 off 32 balls as he and Luke Wright, who was unbeaten on 40, enjoyed an opening stand of 115.
The partnership was broken in the eighth over when Gurbaz was bowled by Umair Ali.
Romario Shepherd lasted four balls before he was bowled by Rayad Emrit for five. Sherfane Rutherford retired hurt for three so it was left to Wright and Eoin Morgan to administer the final rights, Morgan hitting a six off the penultimate ball of the match to secure the victory.
Emrit’s two overs went for 20 runs and was the most economical of the Warriors’ bowlers as with the exception of Ali, every other bowler used conceded more than 15 runs an over.
After six games, the Delhi Bulls are second in the standings with eight points behind Team Abu Dhabi with 10.
Powell’s Warriors have two points from just one win in their six games and are fifth in the six-team standings.
Former England all-rounder Wright will input into all England men’s squads and team selections from senior teams to Lions and Young Lions.
The 37-year-old will share responsibility of selections with coaches, captains, England men's managing director Rob Key, performance director Mo Bobat and player ID lead David Court.
Alec Stewart was among the other names linked with the role, but the former England captain reportedly this week ruled himself out of the running.
Wright has been involved in the New Zealand set-up and will take up his new position in March after finishing his coaching duties with Auckland Cricket, having played his last game for Sussex in June.
Wright said: "It's a huge honour and privilege to take on this role, one that I am incredibly excited about. With the Ashes and ICC Men’s 50-over World Cup next year, I can't wait to get started and try to contribute after what has been a fantastic year for England men’s cricket."
Key stated: "Off the back of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup win and a successful summer for our men's Test team, I'm delighted that Luke will be joining as England selector.
"With his significant experience of playing in England and overseas as well as his in-depth knowledge of county cricket, he will be an important voice in squad selection while also helping to identify the next generation of England stars.
"It’s an exciting time for England men’s cricket, but with the Ashes and the ICC Men’s 50-over World Cup next year there is a lot of hard work ahead if we are to build upon what has been an exciting year."
