It is the extra motivation of a comeback and the strive to prove doubters & critics wrong that eventually paid off huge dividends and propelled him towards his sixth and the most important ton, said Jonny Bairstow.

Returning with the pressure of Ben Foakes and his future in the side over his head, Bairstow smashed a fantastic 110 and helped England, who already lead the series 2-0, finish Day 1 at 312/7 at the SSC.

Speaking afterwards, Bairstow stated, "People have opinions on different matters. As long as I'm proving things to myself and as long as you're improving along the way (that's all that matters). There's a lot of internal self-drive that goes on with playing professional sport."

"You've got to sometimes take everything on the exterior: what people write, what people say, people's opinions and park that. Sometimes use it as a motivator but also it's the internal drive of what you're doing it for and who you're doing it for, that goes a long way," he added.

Bairstow also talked about the extremely painful and unfortunate injury that he has just recovered from and affirmed, "It's the hard work you put in behind the scenes that no-one sees. The sleeping on ice machines, the rehab you put in. It would've been quite easy to say 'I'm not fit'. That's the bit that means the most out there. The days when things aren't going well for your mates back home."

"You could quite easily take your bat home for whatever's gone on but putting things in perspective and what have you over the last couple of weeks has been massive," he signed off.

(Inputs from Cricbuzz)