After a disappointing run in the last two Test matches, Jonny Bairstow has been in solid form in the white-ball leg of this England’s tour of India. He has consistently performed in ODI cricket over the last few years but hasn’t managed to nail down a spot in the T20I or the Test squad. That is his big aim going forward.
Jonny Bairstow has been in excellent form in the white-ball leg of this England tour of India. He has been a consistent performer for England in the 50-over format and has already smashed 10 hundreds and 14 half-centuries and averages 47.84 after 84 ODIs. He scored a fine 94 and set up the game for England in the first ODI but the visitors fluffed the start and lost the game by 66 runs.
Even in the T20Is, he was striking the ball well and he finished off a couple of good run-chases. Bairstow scored a total of 118 runs at an average of 39.33 and was striking at 137.20. Prior to this, he even scored a match-winning 86 not out to help England chase down 180 after being 34/3. Thus, he wants to seal down the No. 4 slot in the shortest format.
I was happy in the T20s, the runs I scored there batting at No. 4 and contributing, being there at the end in two of the games was really pleasing to me. If you take South Africa in, to be at the end at Newlands and the end in two of these games here, I’m pretty happy with how that’s going. It’s a different role, but at the same time, it’s a good role to be in because you’ve got an opportunity to be there at the end, winning games,
Bairstow was quoted saying in the post-match press conference after the first ODI in Pune.
As far as his Test spot is concerned, Bairstow is hoping that it isn’t the end of the road for him. He registered three ducks and a 28 in the last two Test matches against India. Prior to that, he got four successive scores in excess of 25 in Sri Lanka.
This was Bairstow’s return to Test cricket after a hiatus of 13 months. He was dropped after the Boxing Day Test match in South Africa in December 2019. He was ignored for the home Tests in 2020 before he was called up in Sri Lanka. The Yorkshire player added that it wasn’t easy for any of the batters in the last couple of Test matches in India and none of them set the stage on fire and wants a few more opportunities to cement his spot at No. 3. Moreover, he feels that he can add value to the team for the Ashes with his experience of playing in Australia.
I do hope that that is the case and I do get an opportunity to be batting at three going forward, because I do feel that my game is in a good enough place. Having four games in the winter on the subcontinent, which is never going to be easy, full stop… but going back home in the summer to England and then moving forward with the experiences that I’ve had over in Australia. I think going to Australia with a wealth of experience, as we know when you’re entering a major tournament, gives you a better chance of having success over there. So yeah, that is something that I do want to do, want to pursue, and hopefully I am given the opportunity,
Bairstow further added while talking about his spot in the Test team.
