"That's why I'm still playing": Bairstow targets Championship title
JONNY BAIRSTOW says captaining Yorkshire to a County Championship title is a big driver for him as he seeks to put the icing on the cake of a glittering career.
The Yorkshire skipper has achieved so much in the game and admits that he would like nothing more than to tick that particular target off his bucket list.
“That’s why I’m still playing,” said Bairstow after helping Yorkshire to a thrilling one-wicket win over Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge in the final match of the season.
“Ultimately, I want to win the County Championship, and I feel like we have a squad that can do that.
“This year, we’ve just fallen short, but I genuinely believe this group has an opportunity to be successful.
“That's why it's been frustrating at times this year because we haven't fulfilled that potential, but you shouldn’t underestimate how hard the lads have tried.”
Bairstow was speaking after Yorkshire signed off with a third successive win, capped by another trademark performance from the man himself.
On his 37th birthday, it was Bairstow’s unbeaten 38 that steered Yorkshire to their target of 158 in a tense finish. Earlier, they reduced Nottinghamshire from 55-3 at the start of day three to 85 all-out, Jack White taking 5-23, his best figures for the club, and Ben Coad 4-27.
“I absolutely love Trent Bridge,” said Bairstow, who sealed victory with a six over cover off Pakistan pace bowler Mohammad Ali.
“Look, we owed it to ourselves. This year, we've been below-par with the bat, and there’s been too many times when George (Hill) and Bessy (Dom Bess) have had to bail us out.
“To finish the year on a high like that, on the back of some of the results we’ve had throughout the year as well, I think should stand us in good stead for next year.
“You look at some of the teams we’ve beaten like Notts, and some of the teams below us in the table that we’ve lost to, and we’re not that far away if we can just find that consistency.
“It’s great to finish with three straight wins, and the bowlers were superb; Whitey, for example, he’s trucked in all year and hasn’t got his rewards at times, but then he rocks up this morning and does something like that.”
Yorkshire have been on the right and wrong end of some close finishes this year – and they needed their cool-headed skipper to see them home here.
They were 91-2 at one point but fell to 139-8 and then to 153-9, Bairstow taking matters into his own hands with a flurry of boundaries off Ali.
“It meant a lot to me,” said Bairstow of the win.
"We nearly stuffed it up, but it’s nice to finish on a positive note.”
Anthony McGrath, the Yorkshire head coach, paid tribute to the captain and a fine bowling effort.
“I thought Ben Coad and Jack White were unbelievable in the morning, and then Jonny at the end there,” said McGrath.
“Jonny gave a bit of a speech this morning about chasing at Trent Bridge and it being his birthday, so it was a fitting script for him to knock off the runs.”