Jonny Bairstow is on the brink of another Test century – perhaps his most unexpected.
Bairstow’s batting prowess has seen him complete 12 centuries for England so far and now he is ready for a century of a different kind, with the final Test in India on Thursday marking his 100th career century.
There were times when Bairstow wondered when his next Test was coming up, let alone such a milestone. Since making his debut at Lord’s in May 2012, against the West Indies, he has missed 51 England matches due to a combination of injury and non-selection.
Even when he’s been on the sidelines, his character has changed a lot. Perhaps only Moeen Ali, who has batted everywhere from one to nine during his Test career, has been around so badly.
In the team, out of the team. Take off, recover. Wicketkeeper batsman, specialist batsman. Up at number 3, down at number 7, everywhere in between. Bairstow’s 100th game, as teammate Joe Root said recently Sky Sports Cricket Podcastis a testament to his versatility and adaptability.
He has a knack for drawing, showing that during two golden periods in Test cricket. First in 2016 as a wicketkeeper-batsman and then in the summer of 2022 as a beacon of baseball during its birth.
Eight years ago, Bairstow scored the most runs by a wicketkeeper in a calendar year (1,470), while two years ago he scored four centuries in five innings as a specialist batsman, including 77 against New Zealand at Trent Bridge. Attempts to score runs on balls are also included. Ben Stokes-Brendon McCullum started the era in style to help England.
Will Bairstow play in his place?
Bairstow looked set to play a key role in the T20 World Cup in Australia in 2022 and the Test series in Pakistan that year, only to suffer a devastating leg break slip on the golf course.
His career stalled, he feared he might not be able to walk again, and since his return he has not been able to hit previous heights.
The gruesome injury certainly affected his wicket-keeping in the Ashes last summer and he averaged just 21.25 in the India series with a high score of 38 in 8 innings.
There have been flashes of class – three Ashes fifties, including an 81-ball 99 in Manchester – but since his return he has been among the highlights. that Stomping at Lord’s – you know, Alex Kerry will be remembered forever – and carrying a Just Stop Oil protester off the field.
With the closure at 35 and the runs drying up, there must be a chance Bairstow’s 100th Test is his last.
Harry Brook, who has missed the India series due to personal reasons, will regain his place at some stage and Bairstow’s place looks the most vulnerable, with Ben Duckett and Zac Crowley as openers and Stokes, Root and Ole Pope have been included in the middle order.
The notion that Bairstow will replace Ben Foakes as wicket-keeper when the home Tests against Sri Lanka and the West Indies are played this summer is no longer so clear-cut. Fox has been close to flawless with the gloves in India but Bairstow has scored runs, even at a low strike rate.
Looking further into the future, Somerset’s James Reeve, a 20-year-old cricket kid, could be England’s longest-serving wicket-keeper batsman. He scored 57 runs in the County Championship Division One in 2023, including a top score of 221 against Hampshire.
‘Emotional’ Bairstow hits the mark
One thing we’ve learned over the years, though, is that Bairstow never writes. Every time he feels a question or a doubt—and there is something about it now that he’s back in India—he feels like he’s the most dangerous, even if he disputes it. .
After a century at number 3 in Sri Lanka, he felt he had been “religionised” by the injury, which was based on the Ashes 99 debated by the media after wicketkeeping lapses. Countless other examples.
Even early in Yorkshire’s career when Sir Geoffrey Boycott called him, he had yet to hit a hundred and he immediately changed that fact. A passionate, fired-up beer is often the best beer.
He admitted his 100th Test in Dharamsala would be an “emotional” occasion with his family in attendance, telling reporters to “get the tissues ready” – a very different view to India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin who, Be sure to get the same. Actions in the same game, said it was “just a number”.
Bairstow hopes it’s not a 100 and out for him, but, if it is, he can focus on a century that had it all, which he achieved through brilliant fours and terrific sixes but with Fighting their way through difficult times together, both. Professionally and personally.
He lost father David, a former England and Yorkshire wicketkeeper, to suicide in 1998 – Jonny was eight at the time – while his mother Janet battled breast cancer. Such things take into account the lack of runs or some mistakes behind the stumps.
Janet will be in attendance for Jonny’s 100th Test – and you won’t put it down to putting her son on the show. It would take Jonny Bairstow to silence the chit-chit and fire with the bat.
Follow text commentary from the first day of the fifth Test between India and England on skysports.com and the Sky Sports app from 3.30am on Thursday (4am first ball).
Catch the Women’s Premier League, Pakistan Super League and more with a NOW Sports monthly subscription – just £21 a month for 12 months. No contract, cancel anytime.
England Test Series 2024 in India
Anthony Joshua’s heavyweight showdown with Francis Ngannou takes place on Friday March 8, live on Sky Sports Box Office at around 11pm with the main event expected. Book now!
Get Sky Sports on WhatsApp
You can now get messages and alerts for the latest sports news, reviews, in-depth features and videos from our dedicated WhatsApp channel. Learn more here…