IFBAIR OFESSENTIAL

Battling Jonny gives himself a Champions Trophy chance

JONNY BAIRSTOW showed once again why he would walk into any England one-day team of any era – except perhaps this one. But after a career spent dipping in and out of the side, maybe, just maybe Bairstow has done enough to be given a chance to help England win silverware. On a day when Ireland gave a much better account of themselves than Friday’s effort in Bristol, they still lost by 85 runs as England again flexed their muscles. And you’ll be hardpressed to find a batsman who connects with the ball as sweetly or as powerfully as Bairstow. The 27-year-old is the sort of batsman any captain would love to have at their disposal and in hitting 72 not out from 44 balls, made another deafening case for his inclusion in England’s first-choice one-day team. “It is hard to leave Jonny out of any side,” admitted skipper Eoin Morgan. “It is a real selection headache. “The boys in the changing room are putting the performances in and it is a great position to be in with guys on the sidelines really competing with guys who are out on the field.” There has been a shift away from Moeen Ali in these two games against Ireland, with man-of-thematch Joe Root bowling a full complement of 10 overs for the first time in his oneday career to take 3-52. If Root is now able to bowl more seriously and often in one-day cricket Ali’s position is under threat and Bairstow could be a bighitting option for the Champions Trophy. “I’d like to hope so,” said Bairstow. “It’s something I’ve definitely been targeting. “I want to be part of every England side going forward because with the group of players we’ve got it’s definitely an exciting place to be. There’s a heck of a lot of talent within the group and if I’m putting in the performances who knows? I’m pleased with the way I’m striking the ball and moving at the crease. to gloves,I’m “I get was makingdisappointed notbitterly the but contributionsin game playing whateverin, I’m I’m happy.” Bairstow and Adil Rashid added the fireworks at the end the innings to get them up to 328-6. But it was class acts, Root and Morgan, who laid the foundation with 70s of their own. Ireland’s hopes of an upset along the lines of their 2011 miracle in Bangalore relied on Paul Stirling turning his 48 into something more and skipper Will Porterfield adding a few to his 85. These were two teams a world apart, but on a sunny Sunday afternoon at Lord’s, Irish eyes were still smiling.