I'm still a work in progress, admits England hero Bairstow

Yorkshire star Jonny Bairstow is refusing to take his place as England's first-choice Test wicketkeeper for granted despite impressive displays in South Africa.
England's Jonny Bairstow, centre, reacts after making his century with Ben Stokes, left, during the second cricket Test against South Africa in Cape Town. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)England's Jonny Bairstow, centre, reacts after making his century with Ben Stokes, left, during the second cricket Test against South Africa in Cape Town. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)
England's Jonny Bairstow, centre, reacts after making his century with Ben Stokes, left, during the second cricket Test against South Africa in Cape Town. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

The Bradford-born talent has been in super touch throughout England’s tour, following up scores of 41 and 79 in the first Test with unbeaten knocks of 150 and 30 in the second match.

His century in the second game was Bairstow’s first for his country and there is a belief that the 26-year-old will be anticipating an extended run as Test wicketkeeper. He took over the role from Jos Buttler during the tour to Pakistan.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Bairstow is hopeful that he can make the job his own, but he believes he is still finding his feet in Test cricket.

He said: “I don’t think you can ever say you’ve nailed it down (the wicketkeeper’s spot), but I’m pleased with the contributions I’ve made.

“When I played as just a batsman in the Pakistan series, I made some decent contributions there but then perhaps didn’t go on to make that big contribution.

“I think I’ve only kept for four or five Test matches so it’s still a natural learning curve, you’re still bedding into Test cricket as a batsman and as a wicketkeeper.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I’m pleased with the way that it is going. It is a work in progress. But you are only going to learn by playing. That’s the way that I’ve always done things. When I first kept for Yorkshire it was only in my second first-class game... it was three years before I kept for a full season.

“I’m still a young guy learning what is a massive test for anyone. It’s a massive learning curve.

“I’m pleased with the way I’m catching the ball and now pleased with the way I’m moving.

“Hopefully, people will be able to get behind me with my keeping and my contributions with my batting and, hopefully, that will bring me more confidence, too.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I’ve spent a lot of time, a lot of energy and a lot of pain in developing my keeping as well as my batting. I don’t see why I can’t go forward for a long career keeping wicket for England but contributing with my batting, too.”

In Bairstow’s own view, his career with Yorkshire took a while to get going, at least in terms of a century in his debut year. Having finally crossed that line with England, Bairstow is hoping he can replicate his Yorkshire progress and chart a similar course for his country.

He said: “When I started my county career, people who saw me all the way through will say ‘he didn’t get a big one to start off with’.

“It took me a year and a bit – it took me nineteen 50s before I got my first hundred. But, in the rest of my career to date, my conversion rate has been pleasing.

“I hope that I can now take that on into my Test career.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Reflecting on the Cape Town Test, Bairstow admitted that the entire experience was “emotional”, especially sharing the limelight with Ben Stokes.

He said: “It was an unbelievable knock from Ben and it was a pleasure to be at the other end and be a little part of that partnership.

“It was amazing, my family was there, and to miss out a couple of years ago at Lord’s was a bit of a pain in the backside. But to be able to contribute was great – it was an emotional week.”