Let’s grab series: Bairstow
Catches win matches, and if England hold theirs they could take the trophy
THE SIGHT of an animated Trevor Bayliss putting England through rigorous catching practice on their return to work at the Wanderers was an indication of the size of the prize within their grasp this week.
The England coach, usually such a laid-back and understated figure on the training field, does not want the opportunity of a series win against the best team in the world on their own patch to slip through his fingers now.
Certainly the chance to go two up with two to play at Cape Town was wasted by an England side who saw 10 chances go begging during their 211 overs in the field.
A repeat in the third Test, starting here tomorrow, will not be tolerated by Bayliss.
So chance after chance was offered in the thin air of the Highveld at this imposing ground yesterday and the vast majority of them were taken, including an absolute screamer of a one-handed catch in the deep by Chris Jordan.
Sadly Jordan will not be in the team for a Test in which England can seal a notable triumph with one match to play but at least he can resume the 12th-man duties that were beyond him at Newlands because of the virus that yesterday claimed Nick Compton as its latest victim.
It is not as if England have suddenly become a bad catching side, and Jonny Bairstow yesterday defended the record of a team whose lapses came as a shock to Bayliss, a coach who puts great store by quality fielding.
“Fielding has been a priority ever since Trev took over,” said Bairstow, who came of age as a Test batsman in Cape Town and is striving here to do the same as a wicketkeeper.
“I think you saw the amount of catches we took in the sum- mer – some of those in the Ashes were ridiculous – so last week was just a bit of a blip as far as we’re concerned. At no point were we taking it lightly.”
The tone of a team’s fielding, of course, can be set by the keeper and Bairstow, who made a maiden Test century at Newlands but dropped Temba Bavuma on the way to his own, accepted the view of Bayliss that his glovework remains “a work in progress”.
“I was satisfied with the bulk of my keeping in Cape Town and I’m pleased with the way it’s going,” said Bairstow.
“I don’t think you can ever say you’ve nailed it but I’ve only kept in four or five Tests and it’s still a massive learning curve. I’m still bedding into Test cricket as a wicketkeeper.”
He will now get an extended chance to bed in further with England encouraging Jos Buttler, for now, to concentrate on limited-overs cricket and take a full part in the Indian Premier League this spring.
Bairstow has looked more comfortable with the tempo of batting at No 7, even though he is good enough to bat in the top five, and now wants to emulate Matt Prior in becoming a genuine all-rounder.
“I like to think so,” said Bairstow when asked if he now considered himself a genuine batsman-keeper.
“I’ve invested a lot of time and energy and a lot of pain in my keeping as well as my batting. I don’t see any reason why I can’t have a long career keeping wicket for England but also contributing with my batting.”
Compton was up and about yesterday having been laid low by his virus on Sunday and is expected to bat in practice today with a view to being fine for the third Test.
South Africa, though, confirmed they will be without Dale Steyn and will consider playing an all-seam attack on a pitch which is expected to have plenty of pace and bounce. – Daily Mail IN FULL FLOW: Australia’s Steve Smith hits a six on his way to 149 during the One-Day International match against India in Perth yesterday. Australia won by five wickets, with four balls to spare.