Jonny Bairstow is a hard-hitting English cricketer who plays for the national team across all formats. According to the today cricket update news, A wicketkeeper-batsman, Bairstow has established himself as one of the most destructive openers in white ball cricket. In this blog, you will deep dive into the eventful cricket journey of Jonny Bairstow from his early career to becoming a mainstay in England’s batting lineup.
Early Life and Domestic Career
Jonny Bairstow was born on 26 September 1989 in Bradford, England. His father David Bairstow also represented England as a wicketkeeper. Bairstow junior followed in his father’s footsteps taking up wicketkeeping while playing for the Yorkshire County Cricket Club youth teams. He grew up idolizing wicketkeeper-batsmen like Alec Stewart and was determined to emulate their success at the international level.
After strong performances for the England Under-19 squad, Bairstow made his first-class debut for Yorkshire in 2009 at just 20 years old. He scored a solid 82 on debut, showcasing his batting abilities. His debut performance showed the potential he possessed with the bat. Over the next decade, Bairstow cemented his place in the Yorkshire lineup through consistent run scoring. He forged many match-winning partnerships with other Yorkshire batsmen. Bairstow went on to play for Yorkshire for over a decade, racking up 13 centuries as well as 50 half-centuries across formats. His prolific run scoring at the domestic level was instrumental in earning him higher honours with the national team.
International Debut
Jonny Bairstow’s consistent run-scoring for Yorkshire earned him an ODI call-up in 2011 against India. He made his debut in the 5th ODI, scoring an unbeaten 41. Displaying good form with the bat and impressive glovework, he put pressure on the established wicketkeeper at the time. Bairstow’s talent behind the stumps and explosiveness with the bat saw him make his T20I debut in the same year against West Indies.
In his T20I debut, he scored a quickfire 24 and took two catches to impress the selectors. He made his Test debut in 2012 against South Africa and became England’s first-choice wicketkeeper across all formats over the next decade thanks to his consistency and match-winning abilities both with the bat and gloves. His exploits in his debut series helped him cement his place in the national squad.
Test Career Highlights
While considered a white ball specialist initially, Jonny Bairstow gradually improved his Test credentials. He notched up his maiden Test hundred against South Africa in 2012. Over the years, Bairstow delivered many crucial knocks batting in the middle order. His determination to prove himself in the longer format saw him work tirelessly on his defensive technique and concentration against high quality pace and spin bowling.
Two of his best Test performances came in 2016. Bairstow smashed 140 in record partnerships with Ben Stokes to beat South Africa. Dominating the Proteas attack, he struck 16 fours and 2 sixes in his blistering knock. He followed it up with another stellar century against Sri Lanka later that year. Scoring 167, Bairstow batted with authority and rode his luck to register his highest Test score. These match-winning centuries under pressure demonstrated Bairstow’s growing maturity and ability to deliver in Test cricket for England.
White Ball Success
However, it was his limited-overs exploits that truly established Jonny Bairstow as a world-class batsman. After opening in ODIs for the first time in 2015, Bairstow never looked back. His aggressive strokeplay made him a dangerous opener.
Some highlights include smashing three ODI hundreds in 2016, scoring over 450 runs in the 2019 World Cup and averaging over 50 in ODIs in 2021. In T20Is too, Bairstow emerged as a reliable opener capable of rapid scoring.
IPL Career
Jonny Bairstow’s attacking batting attracted bids from IPL franchises – first Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2019 and later Punjab Kings in 2022. Bairstow proved his worth in his debut IPL season, scoring 445 runs at a strike rate of 157. His explosive batting at the top was instrumental in Sunrisers’ run to the playoffs that year.
Across four IPL seasons, Bairstow has amassed over 1,000 runs at a 140+ strike rate as well as established himself as one of the most intimidating openers.
Partnership with Roy
A key aspect of Jonny Bairstow’s success in white ball cricket is his prolific opening partnership with Jason Roy for England. Dubbed the best opening pair in ODIs during their prime, Bairstow and Roy have put up some scintillating stands.
Together they have averaged 61.62 for the first wicket, providing England with explosive starts regularly and enabling their ultra-aggressive batting approach.
Milestones and Records
Some notable records and milestones achieved by Jonny Bairstow during his prolific run-scoring spree:
- 7th fastest to 2000 ODI runs
- 4th England batsman to score 1000+ ODI runs in a calendar year
- Most T20I sixes for England (65)
- Only wicketkeeper to score 5 fifty-plus scores in a Test series
- Highest Test score by an English wicketkeeper (167)
Playing Style and Technique
Jonny Bairstow is a reliable batsman with an aggressive style. He can muscle the ball through the leg side with his big arms and strong from the backfoot. In addition to having excellent hand-eye coordination, he plays spin proficiently.
Bairstow has demonstrated his neat talents behind the wickets as a keeper over the years, pulling off some incredible catches and stumpings. But after leaving Tests, his keeping has greatly improved.
Challenges and Criticism
Even though he is an excellent batsman, Jonny Bairstow has had difficulties in his career. His rash shot choice has caused him to be inconsistent, as well as he has had trouble adjusting to good-pace bowling with lateral movement.
Bairstow’s ability to maintain wicket was also severely questioned. His inclusion in the England Test team was thus lost in 2019, as well as he only made a comeback as a specialist batter in 2022.
Conclusion
As one of the most aggressive as well as productive openers for England in white ball cricket as well as in T20 leagues throughout the globe, Jonny Bairstow has made a name for himself. In the short overs context, Bairstow has demonstrated his elite batting skills, despite inconsistent red-ball performance. At the top of the order, he is a dangerous match-winner because to his power-hitting as well as quick scoring rates. Should he maintain his exceptional performance, as per sports news cricket Bairstow may become one of England’s greatest opening players in ODI history.
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