England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow put on a show with the bat on Day 3 of the fourth Ashes Test against Australia at Old Trafford.

Bairstow was left stranded on 99* off 81 balls (10 fours and 4 sixes) as the hosts got bowled out for 592 in reply to Australia’s first innings total of 317.

After the day’s play, Bairstow seemed to be in a combative mood with the journalists in a press conference.

When asked about his contentious stumping in the second Ashes Test at Lord’s, he said: “I have got no comment on it.”

On his return to the England Test team after recovering from a freak leg injury, Jonny Bairstow has struggled behind the stumps throughout the Ashes 2023. In fact, his place in the playing XI was questioned leading up to the Manchester Test.

Bairstow came up with a blunt response when a reporter enquired about his keeping struggles.

“Keeping after three years is not easy. It is one of those things that takes a bit of time to get back to irrelevant of the ankle. It would be like you guys taking the three years sabbatical and then coming back and writing at same level,” he said.

Bairstow, who has come under the scanner for his keeping, further stated that he is used to the criticism now.

“Chitter-chatter and opinion has been rather interesting at times, especially when there is no conversation about how my ankle is. Whether they are fair, not fair this is up to you guys to decide because you guys are writing it,” Bairstow said.

“Everyone thinks that I play better when people go at me, it gets a bit tiresome to be honest with you. I’ve played a lot of cricket now and to be keep being told that you’re rubbish. Well, if I was that was that rubbish. I wouldn’t have played 94 games,” he remarked.

Talking about the Manchester Test, Australia reached 113/4 at stumps on Day 3, trailing England by 162 runs in the second innings. Marnus Labuschagne (44*) and Mitchell Marsh (1*) were unbeaten in the middle for the visitors.

England pacer Mark Wood ran through the Aussie batting line-up in the second innings, picking up three wickets by conceding 17 runs in his seven overs.