It’s brilliant, barnstorming Bairstow!
Jonny and Jamie heroics rescue England on another bonkers day
JONNY BAIRSTOW vowed to continue his swashbuckling approach after coming to England’s rescue with another sensational century against New Zealand.
The home side had slumped to 55 for six, but Bairstow put on an unbeaten 209 with debutant Jamie Overton, bringing up his 10th Test hundred off just 95 balls. ‘It’s special, I guess
it’s your personality coming out, isn’t it? It’s why you want to play the game as a young kid. ‘Our job is to inspire the next generation, our job is to make people want to watch cricket, our job is to put bums on seats and I think people might want to watch the brand of cricket that we’re playing, which is exciting,’ said Bairstow.
The Yorkshireman led by example in sealing victory in the second Test with a dazzling display of hitting, and he was England’s hero again on his home ground, sending the crowd into raptures.
At tea, England were 91 for six and trailed by 238 runs, but Bairstow insisted that despite losing six wickets in an hour, they were right to stick to the attacking brand of cricket they have adopted under Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum. ‘You can go into your shell and bat the way in which people have done for years and years and try to survive,’ said the 32-year-old. ‘But when you’ve got bowlers like Trent Boult and Tim Southee bowling so well, you need to transfer the momentum.’
Bairstow and Overton compiled a record seventh-wicket partnership for England in Test cricket and the Surrey all-rounder, on 89 overnight, will this morning bid for a century of his own.
‘He played unbelievably,’ said Bairstow. ‘To come out and play with that freedom and clarity and the power off the back foot to the spinners, the power in his pulls off Neil Wagner — to be doing that in your first Test match… I guess it helps being 6ft 5in but blooming heck, it was some seriously special striking and some unbelievable hitting. ‘Hopefully in the morning we’ll be able to experience him getting his maiden Test hundred which will be absolutely lovely. ‘The way in which he’s played and the way he’s gone about is a huge credit to him.’