GRIN AND BAIR IT!
‘Grown-up’ Jonny keen on ODI spot but he can cope with being left out
JONNY BAIRSTOW hopes he has finally done enough to be picked the next time England have a one-day game with a full squad to choose from.
But incredibly after thrashing 60 not out in the T20 side on Wednesday to illustrate why he is probably second only to Joe Root as an English batsman, he may not get his wish.
It is only in Test cricket where the red-haired keeper has truly established his credentials, but his run-scoring transcends formats.
Each time he gets a whiteball game, feeding off the scraps of those being ‘rested’, Bairstow scores runs. He can score them quickly on flat, seaming or slow-low pitches.
But somehow he is still fighting for a chance, that may not even come when they play the West Indies in September – not that he will let it affect him.
“I hope I’m in the next one-day side,” said Bairstow. “I hope so, everyone wants to play.
“I haven’t thought about it too much just yet and it is important not to look towards that ODI series just yet, but I hope I play.
“It is what it is and there is no point in worrying too much about it. I’ve been in squads and out of squads, I’ve played, I’ve not played in different formats and if you look at it and pick it apart you’ll get yourself het up.
“There is more to life than getting het up about X, Y and Z, you’ve still got to live and crack on.
“I think I have grown up a lot over the last three years. I’m not sure what I can particularly put that down to, but naturally you grow up from a boy to a man and you learn about different things.
“You learn about how to play, how to construct an innings, how to go on different tours and play on different wickets and then it is all about trying to bring that together.”
Bairstow has certainly managed to bring it all together in the Test team where he scored more runs last year than any wicketkeeper has managed before as part of a run of form that has lasted for two years.
A t some point the runs could dry up, but the 27-year-old hopes to maintain his standards by sticking to a routine that clearly works.
“I maintain my form by not worrying about it. That is the biggest thing. Being comfortable within yourself and being comfortable in your surroundings.
“I keep doing exactly the same with my training, keep working hard on the things that we will potentially be facing in an upcoming series.
“I feel it shows some of my hard work is paying off.”