Bairstow in hurry to see back of his winter discontent

JONNY BAIRSTOW is champing at the bit to bring his winter injury misery to a happy end and “make some more memories”.

The Yorkshireman is winning his fitness battle following his broken leg horror last year and wants to get back on the field to regain some batting form.

Bairstow, 33, admits he has not enjoyed being stuck at home while his England team-mates were on tour over the winter and has told his county he would like to keep wicket.

The prolific runscorer clearly feels he needs to prove his skills again, both with bat and behind the stumps, in order to guarantee himself an Ashes spot.

That’s despite Yorkshire director of cricket Darren Gough insisting he had received no request from England for Bairstow to keep wicket.

Bairstow (below) aims to be back in the side for the opening Test of the summer against Ireland at Lord’s on June 1 – followed by the mouthwatering clashes with Australia.

He said: “I’m happy with my progress. The leg is improving nicely and it’s all very upbeat at the moment.

“I’m certainly looking forward to the Ashes. I will be playing long before then.

“The team is having a good time of it and I’m really looking forward to getting back with the boys.

“It’s an exciting summer ahead. In fact, it’s a massive year, what with also being in the position of trying to retain the World Cup in India. There’s so much huge cricket going on.

“I just want to get back out there with the lads and make some more fantastic memories, visit some more amazing places and hopefully entertain a lot more people, whether that’s at the ground, on the radio or on TV.

“It’s one of the first winters I’ve had at home. I’m not really used to it and being injured isn’t the nicest way to spend time at home. Hopefully I won’t have another one in a while, fitness and form allowing.”

Bairstow was on fire last year, hitting over a thousand Test runs and averaging more than 66 before slipping and breaking a leg and an ankle while playing golf.

He missed out on England’s

T20 World Cup success and also a big IPL pay day, as well as the trips to Pakistan and New Zealand.