Bairstow: Good craic driving England on
Jonny Bairstow has opened up about opening up with Jason Roy, the partnership driving England’s bid for World Cup glory.
The pair are the bedrock of the team’s batting exploits, reeling off three successive century stands in the tournament to tee up Thursday’s World Cup semi-final at Edgbaston. They have now reached three-figures 10 times in 32 innings together, with their average opening stand sitting at 67.70 – the highest in one-day international history for partnerships of 20 innings or more.
It is no surprise that England’s damaging back-to-back defeats, by Sri Lanka and Australia, came when Roy was absent with a torn hamstring. Not only does the Surrey man bring a fearless presence with him to the crease, he appears to bring the best out in Bairstow too.
The Yorkshireman averages 52.54 when they go out together, including seven of nine ODI hundreds, compared to 39.62 when he opens without Roy.
Bairstow, fresh from match-winning scores of 111 and 106 in his last two knocks, has a simple explanation.
“It’s just a good craic. That’s what it is. It’s genuinely good fun,” he said.
“It’s pretty relaxed, good fun and the communication is important all the way through. We just keep each other going, it’s nice, it’s relaxed, and we just try to crack on and do what we do.”
England will face Australia in Birmingham after the Aussies failed to beat South Africa yesterday.
Setatargetof325for six by they came up 10 runs short despite Warner hitting 122.
The other semi-final will see India take on New Zealand at Old Trafford on Tuesday. The Indians reached 265 to see off Sri Lanka by seven wickets at Headingley yesterday.