Ten months after suffering a career-threatening injury, bristling innings respond emphatically to criticism.
However, the raw emotion that went into Jonny Bairstow’s remarkable innings of 99 not out from 81 balls on the third afternoon at Old Trafford meant that his final figures didn’t matter a jot.
The anguish of losing out on an Ashes century would be unbearable for some players. However, the raw emotion that went into Jonny Bairstow’s remarkable innings of 99 not out from 81 balls on the third afternoon at Old Trafford meant that his final figures didn’t matter a jot. Bairstow has battled actual, career-threatening misery in the last year, and at the end of the game, he let it all out in a poignant pitch-side interview.
“You just don’t know how horrible it’ll be. “It could have ended my career,” Bairstow told Sky Sports’ Ian Ward, recalling the horrific slip on a golf course last September that ended the most extraordinary season of his career, leaving him with a broken leg in three places, a dislocated ankle, and ligament damage.
A less bloodthirsty cricketer like Bairstow might not have even considered such a difficult recovery, let alone succeeded in returning to action in time for one of the most eagerly anticipated Ashes series in recent memory. The fact that he did so as a wicketkeeper, following the outstanding performance of his batting replacement, Harry Brook, was an added weight.
It has visibly weighted him down at points during the series, with a string of lost chances behind the stumps leading to concern regarding his status in this Test. However, after snatching a brilliant one-handed chance from Mitchell Marsh in Australia’s first innings, he carried that confidence into a formidable show of power-hitting towards the tail end of England’s reply, with his 10 fours and four sixes helping to expand Australia’s advantage to a daunting 275.
“I have nine pins and a wire that goes through my ankle, and I’ve been out for nine months,” he explained. “I’m still only ten months post-op right now.” So when I talk to the surgeon and he says, ‘I’m astonished you’re walking and running, let alone playing professional sports,’ I’m overjoyed.
“There are times when you have aches and pains and people say you’re limping, and I am, because there’s a lot going on in the ankle and other bits that people don’t understand.” It’s been a wild ride. During those nine months, a lot has transpired. And to be able to return to the field with a group of boys I care deeply about is a special place for me.”
When asked about his troubles behind the stumps, Bairstow admitted that a lack of playing time was a major reason.
“There have been a few I’ve written down.” “I haven’t kept wicket in three years,” he explained. “I played a couple of games for Yorkshire before diving headfirst into an Ashes series.” I didn’t bat against Ireland because the boys performed admirably. I’m overjoyed with where I’m at. Physically, it has taken a tremendous amount of effort.
“But you know how I am; you know my personality.” It’s not for lack of trying. Every time I walk out and put on an England shirt, whether it’s for a Test, an ODI, or a T20, I’m really proud of myself. I’m a proud, proud guy, and it means a lot to me. Getting back and being available for selection for the Ashes makes me extremely proud.
“I couldn’t have done it without the help and support of my friends and family throughout the winter.” I’m just glad to be here. That is exactly what it is all about. The folks who have your back and are there for you through thick and thin
“That dressing room is so solid,” he observed of England’s balcony. “We’ve got a special group of players in there, a group of players who will fight tooth and nail for each other, and we’ve seen the direction that we want to go as a group over the last 12–18 months.”
“I don’t think that’s changed over the course of the series.” You have questioned our strategy at times, but we have adhered to our guns the entire time. That’s how we’ve played our cricket since Ben Stokes took over, and it’s how we’ll continue to play. We have not taken a step back, regardless of who we have encountered. Whether that’s correct or incorrect, we’ll keep doing it because there’s a greater picture that’s been discussed with the game of Test cricket.”
Bairstow admitted that his experience as a wicketkeeper had helped him judge which deliveries he could safely steal a bye on and get his partner James Anderson off strike, and he added of his own hitting options with Australia’s fielders set back on the rope: “When you’re downwind, you’ve got to go up.”
“With the squares as they are right now, you have to hit it as hard as you can across the square and let the rest happen.” We’ve been lucky to play on good pitches, and the outfield has been quick, so it’s just a matter of picking the biggest gap and hitting it as hard as you can.”
On Sky Sports after the game, Nasser Hussain noted that Bairstow had been “ticking” throughout his innings, and he commended Stokes for reading the situation perfectly after lunch. Instead of declaring with England nine down and Bairstow unbeaten on 49 from 50 balls, he trusted his teammate to keep attacking a fatigued Australian attack and expanding England’s lead with the kind of statement innings he usually produces when he has something to prove.
“Everyone thinks I play better when people go at me; to be honest, it gets a little tiresome,” Bairstow insisted. “I’ve played a lot of cricket lately, and you keep telling me you’re crap. That was nonsense, if I’m being honest. I would not have participated in 94 games.
“I’ve been happy [with my form],” he continued, alluding to the controversy at Lord’s, where his stumping on the final day of the match allowed Australia to win for the second time. “There have been a couple of unusual dismissals throughout the season… But I only earned 70 odd a couple games ago, so it is what it is.
“That’s just part of the way I want to play cricket.” I want to go out and have fun. I’d like to go out and entertain people. People will make comments about how I bat, as they always do. That will continue, but you can leave their comments to them, and I’ll just do what I’ll do in the middle.”
“I don’t have a view” on the Lord’s dispute, Bairstow said. He did admit, though, that he was extra careful to stay in his crease throughout his innings at Old Trafford. “I’ve done it all since that happened,” he continued. “You just have to be careful with those things, don’t you?”
“It wasn’t the way I wanted to be out at Lord’s, but that’s part of the deal.” We’ve seen it before, and I’ve even heard about it in club cricket. When it comes to young children, that’s not necessarily what you want to hear about. You play it tough, you play it fair, and it doesn’t happen on another day, but it is what it is.”
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