MARTYN Moxon fears Jonny Bairstow's "special" talent is being wasted as a result of his lack of one-day opportunities with England.

York ace Bairstow's omission from England's first-choice Champions Trophy team has divided opinion.

There are those who cannot see a way into the team for the 27-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman, while others are unable to see how he can be left out given his form and undoubted ability.

The matter has been confused by regular opener Jason Roy's lack of runs ahead of today's opener against Bangladesh at The Oval – just 33 in five one-day internationals this summer.

Bairstow recently scored a magnificent 174 in that position for Yorkshire in a Royal London Cup tie against Durham last month.

Yorkshire director of cricket Moxon, who does have sympathy with the selectors, said: "It's a measure of how strong the team is that Jonny can't get in.

"From my point of view, we know the talent he's got and it's just a slight concern we're wasting time with him a bit. Potentially he could be absolutely outstanding. He can take attacks apart.

"It's a tricky balance for the England selectors to know when to introduce him. If they leave it too long, they might miss a trick.

"Potentially he might not play for nearly a month if they don't pick him. Then it's hard for him to find his fluency for the Test matches coming up (against South Africa in early July).

"That's not easy for any player. It's a real dilemma. He needs to play one-day cricket to get better – but he's not getting the games.

"He's shown what he can do when he has played for England and for us. That's the problem of the selectors.

"All I'm saying is at some point they have to decide whether, in the long term, he's going to be better than some very good players they've currently got in the team."

Bairstow has played only 26 one-day internationals since debuting against India at Cardiff in September 2011. Three of his five half-centuries for England have come in four matches since the turn of the year.

Moxon said: "At the minute he's not playing enough to really develop and become something really special in one-day cricket.

"He's got all the attributes to go on and get big runs. He can bat at the top of the order, which he's shown, but he can also be so destructive later on.

"The more he plays, the better he's going to get. But he's not playing, so how can he get better? If it goes on too long, his talent might be wasted.

"Somebody's got to decide at some point 'you know what, we're going to have to invest in him because he could be something special'.

"That's of no detriment to the England team. They have some outstanding batsmen – but could Jonny be better?

"They're not going to change it now. They've nailed their colours to the mast and will go with this team for the Champions Trophy.

"They're not going to rip that script up. I can see their point but at the same time, are we wasting Jonny Bairstow? That is the crucial question."