It’s a breeze as Bairstow leads England home
It was billed as a battle of the two fiercest protagonists in cricket but instead Jonny Bairstow took centre stage with a maiden one-day hundred that finally established him as a fixture in England’s white-ball team.
Ben stokes and Marlon samuels were on their best behaviour at the start of a oneday series that almost did not get off the ground because of the damage done to the outfield by rain and a plethora of concerts.
and while there were no verbals when stokes dismissed samuels in west Indies’ below par 204 for nine, Bairstow made a loud statement when he showed why he has been so desperate for an extended chance in the one-day side.
Bairstow said: ‘I missed out on a century here earlier this summer and when I slipped coming back for the third run tonight I thought, “Oh no, not 99 again”. But luckily it was wet enough on the boundary for the fielder to slip too. It seems a long time ago that I made my one- day debut and a lot has happened since then so I’m really pleased. Not many people have scored a oneday hundred for England and to join that club is something I’ve wanted and striven to do.’
Even though he has become one of England’s best test players and had scored three half centuries in his last five one-day games, Bairstow has been forced to wait to become something more than a perennial white-ball stand-in.
He replaced Jason Roy for the ill-fated Champions trophy semifinal against Pakistan in June but his selection here at the top of the order felt more significant and he responded by giving notice of his intention to open alongside alex Hales for the build-up to the next world Cup. By the time England coasted to a seven-wicket win, Bairstow had reached exactly 100 not out after starring in a matchwinning partnership of 125 with Joe Root, who added his 21st score of 50 or more in his last 38 oneday innings.
the opening game of this Royal London series had threatened to descend into farce with the reluctance of the umpires and, it seemed, the captains to play on a soggy outfield. and although common sense prevailed after a twohour delay, the sense of shambles was exacerbated with the third ball of the match when Root dropped Chris Gayle before he had scored. It looked to be a costly miss as Gayle showed why he has become the ultimate white-ball batsman by smashing three big early sixes. But the turning point of the game and perhaps the series came when the 37-year-old had to accelerate from his usual stately pace between the wickets to something approaching a jog as he ‘hurried’ to avoid being run out by Moeen ali.
the unexpected burst of physical activity caused the ‘universe boss’ to tweak his hamstring and, denied a runner by ICC rules, he struggled for movement before falling for 37 to a brilliant running catch from a relieved Root.
It was not the only outstanding grab by England, with Hales holding on to a fierce pull from Evin Lewis to provide the first breakthrough and then Bairstow leaping to claim shai Hope on the midwicket fence.
Bairstow’s athleticism gave stokes his first wicket but it was the second of his three that gave him the most pleasure as it saw his old foe samuels falling with the help of a review after gloving one down the leg side.
Nothing was said between the two, who have a clear mutual dislike, as samuels awaited the verdict but this was an odd contribution from the Jamaican, who took 46 balls over his 17 in an innings that robbed west Indies of their early momentum. to be fair, England made it extremely difficult on a slow late- season pitch as they bowled and fielded — bar Root’s early lapse — in a fashion befitting a team with aspirations to be the world’s best.
west Indies, by contrast, are the worst of all test teams at the longer limited- overs game and there was a lack of nous about the way they stumbled towards the end of their 42 overs, with adil Rashid the pick of the England attack.
It was never likely to be enough and once Bairstow had joined forces with Root west Indies were hurried to defeat with 11.1 overs to spare — a result that already sentences them to a qualifying competition for a place at the 2019 world Cup.
stokes was there at the close — even shaking samuels’ hand — having helped Bairstow to a century which, after that 99 here last month, clearly meant the world to him. England one up with four to play at the end of their longest summer and Bairstow will take some shifting from this one-day side now.