Jonny Bairstow reveals that his impressive form came as a result of freedom from Covid-19 protocols
Jonny Bairstow praised his sublime form in Test cricket in the last five appearances including two against India, as a result of freedom from Covid-19 protocols and the clarity of roles under the new head coach Brendon McCullum.
Jonny Bairstow scored 106 and 114 not out and played a major role in England’s seven-wicket victory in the rescheduled fifth Test which the hosts won on Tuesday.
Before that, he had scored 1, 16, 8, 136, 162, and 71 not out in the three-match Test series against New Zealand which England clean swept by 3-0.
Jonny Bairstow praised his sublime form in Test cricket in the last five appearances including two against India, as a result of freedom from Covid-19 protocols and the clarity of roles under the new head coach Brendon McCullum.
“It’s the freedom we have now. We not in hotel rooms, bubbles, have to do Covid tests every day and we can do normal things like go to the shop, go for a beer, see your friends and family,”
Bairstow told the Tailenders podcast.
“All of those things accumulate together and obviously the excitement of working with Baz (McCullum) and the clarity he gave everyone.”
England’s four successive Test victories recently have come playing aggressive cricket under New Zealander McCullum.
Although Bairstow missed the beginning county season this summer as he was part of the Indian Premier League. Brendon McCullum ensured that would not affect his place in the Test team.
“Before we played New Zealand, there was chat about going to the IPL and not playing county cricket but Baz phoned me, said I was batting five in the Tests, to get my head around it and crack on,”
Bairstow said.
“Baz also spoke to me a bit about imposing myself on the game – nothing technical. That can be tricky in red-ball cricket because you don’t want to look like you’re slogging.
“I had two nets before the first game so finding the balance was interesting. I played a shot-a-ball at Lord’s (scoring one and 16) which didn’t go down too well and then found the balance better at Trent Bridge (scoring 136).”
Veteran England fast bowler James Anderson said Bairstow was all pumped to score his first-innings century against India; courtesy of Virat Kohli’s sledging.
“Jonny was 80 not out and Virat had been going at him and sledging him a lot,”
said Anderson.
“I don’t know if you saw the strike-rate difference? His strike rate was about 20 before Virat started sledging him and about 150 after.”
During the morning session of the third day of the fifth Test on Sunday, Kohli had something to say to Bairstow about his ‘play and miss’ game but the England batter wasn’t someone to take it lightly.
The duo had a severe verbal exchange and at some point in the match, the umpires had to intervene to cool down the environment.