You are comparing him to Stokes and Ali who are all rounders and advocating him as a specialist batsman. If Barstow didn't exist I would have no problem with him playingSaying there is nothing in his entire red ball career to suggest he will make a Test batsman. ?? Come on, that's just not true. He's only played 18 tests and before being dropped for Bairstow was doing ok.
Yes, his average could be higher but stats aren't everything. It's not like it's a terrible average. Stokes averages 32. Modern's is 35.
Ballance is only 37 as a specialist batsman with 4 tons and more games.
Also, Buttler was in the side as keeper-batsman, it's only the last three Tests he was selected as a batsman, bearing that in mind averaging 31 is not unreasonable.