Bairstow keeping focus on Yorkshire promotion

The Yorkshireman was in dazzling form on his one-day international debut, three times clearing the ropes with thumping big hits that are fast becoming a trademark feature of the English summer.

But while it can only be a matter of time before he becomes an England regular in all forms of the game, the 22-year-old stressed yesterday that his immediate focus is doing well for Yorkshire.

Questions surrounding his international hopes were wisely dismissed into the far distance as surely as those cricket balls which leave his bat with phenomenal power.

“I don’t want to look further ahead than the opening game of the season against Kent next Thursday,” said Bairstow, who was speaking after Yorkshire’s annual team photo call at Headingley Carnegie.

“That’s all I’m concentrating on and hopefully we can win that match and stamp an impression on how the rest of the season will go for the club.

“All I can do is look after what I’m doing at Yorkshire, score the amount of runs I’d like to score and keep wicket as well as I’d like to keep wicket.

“If I perform as well as I can for the White Rose, the wider picture will look after itself.”

It was prudent talk from Bairstow, who has just returned from a busy winter that took him to India (twice), Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates and, most recently, to Barbados on Yorkshire’s pre-season tour.

There will be few unstamped pages on his passport after that little lot but it was an educational few months and gave him valuable experience of different pitches and conditions.

Bairstow faced some testing challenges – not least the ODI tour of India last autumn when he scored 49 runs in four innings and England, collectively, struggled to shine, losing 5-0.

But there were also moments of undoubted class, such as a savage 53-ball century for an England XI at Hyderabad – a remarkable effort against any opposition – and an unbeaten 60 in the second Twenty20 international against Pakistan in Dubai, which helped England to a 2-1 win.

“The ODI trip to India was very tough but I learnt masses from it,” said Bairstow. “It was a bit of an eye-opener in many respects and it inspired me to work even harder when I went back out there later in the year (with the England Performance Programme).

“Then, after Christmas, I went to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka with the Lions and that was another eye-opening trip when I scored a few runs without getting the big scores I really wanted.

“After that it was off to the UAE and it was great to be part of the squad that won the ODIs 4-0 against Pakistan and then the Twenty20s 2-1, and I feel as though I’ve come back a better all-round player, although still with plenty of work to do.”

There was a steely glint in Bairstow’s eye yesterday as he reflected on the winter and contemplated the summer months ahead.

He appeared fit, focused and fired-up to build on last season’s efforts, when he scored 1,015 Championship runs at 46.13 and kept wicket with aplomb.

No Yorkshire supporter needs telling that it is exciting to ponder what carnage he might cause in Division Two of the Championship, while he provides X-factor quality in all competitions.

Bairstow is also conscious how much it means to Yorkshire’s supporters that the club enjoy better fortunes this year following Championship relegation.

“It was a difficult season last time but that’s gone now and we’re determined to move forward,” he added. “In Barbados, on the pre-season tour, there was a lot of energy about the place and a real hunger to do well, and we’ll all be putting 110 per cent in this season, there’s no doubt about that.

“We’re all wearing the White Rose for the reason that we want to play for the club and are passionate about the club.

“If you walk on the pitch half-hearted playing for Yorkshire, then not only will the 10 other guys in the team say, ‘Right, you need to buck your ideas up’, but also the supporters and back-room staff will say exactly the same.”

Bairstow was in fine form in Barbados, playing some typically dynamic innings.

And with Yorkshire having won the Barbados Twenty20 Cup, and beaten several good county sides along the way, he is confident they can take that impressive form into the new campaign when the important action gets underway.

“To come away with a trophy at the end of the trip takes us into the summer in a positive frame of mind and in a really good place as a squad,” he added. “The boys have been working really hard on-and-off the pitch with their skills and also in the gym, and there’s great competition for places.

“The new coaches, Jason Gillespie and Paul Farbrace, have come in and brought a fantastic atmosphere to the club.

“Everyone is determined to work really hard for them and for Yorkshire cricket in general.”

Yorkshire play a 50-over friendly against Derbyshire at Derby tomorrow, followed by a two-day friendly against Durham at Chester-le-Street (Sunday/Monday).

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