Jonny Bairstow of England has been playing at a level that most batters can only dream of. In the rescheduled Test against India at Edgbaston, he slammed hundreds in both innings, allowing the home team to chase down the massive target of 378, the highest ever overhauled by England in Tests. This was the hosts’ fourth consecutive successful chase in the longest format.
In the first innings, Bairstow took some time to settle in, after which he took on the Indian bowlers and smashed 106 off 140 balls. He looked solid in the second innings as well, smashing 114* off 145 balls.
England have recently played an aggressive brand of cricket in the traditional format under the new regime of Brendon McCullum as head coach, and Bairstow has been the standout player from the introduction of "BazBall".
Bairstow averaged 24.44 in 2021, 18.56 in 2019, and 30.45 in 2018 but that average has sprung to 76.46 this year.
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The 32-year-old admitted that the last three years have been difficult, but that things are now back on track because he is loving his team’s aggressive style of cricket.
“It is great fun at the moment. The last month has been fantastic for the lads and the smiles on their faces when everyone does well is a massive part of it. I am stripping it back to the basics. The last few years have been tough on me but the last few months have been fantastic. Fair play to everyone who went through that," Bairstow said in the post-match presentation after being named Player of the Match.
Although he acknowledged the team won’t win every game using their current strategy, it is still a ‘fun brand of cricket’ to play.
“Day five was over in 90 minutes. I just have an enjoyment factor now. I am not afraid of failing and just want to put the pressure on the opposition. We are going to lose games with the approach we have, but it is a positive fun brand of cricket to play," he said.
The Yorkshire cricketer stated that although the Indian bowlers attempted to intimidate the English batters, the chase was completely under control.
“The chase was all under control. They have some world-class bowlers and you just have to soak the pressure. They try to intimidate, they have some fantastic players and it was about trying to shift the pressure on them. There are going to be phases when they are going to play really well. There was a period when it started reversing as well," he remarked.
He went on to mention his amazing 269-run partnership with Joe Root and how special it was for him to bat alongside the former skipper after having grown up together.
“And today morning was a different morning. Root and me are just two lads from Yorkshire. We have grown up playing together and spent a lot of time together from the Yorkshire academy days to the Test team now. Special to play with him," he concluded.
The Edgbaston victory meant that the series ended in a 2-2 draw and the Pataudi Trophy was shared by the two teams.
(SKY SPORTS INPUTS)
