Left Arm Around

It’s August 18, 2012.

England are playing South Africa in a crucial 3rd Test at Lord’s.

A young Yorkshireman by the name of Jonny Bairstow is playing only his 4th Test.

He has just been dismissed for a wonderful 95 against an incredible attack featuring the likes of Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander and Jacques Kallis.

The hosts would go on to lose the Test and series- as well as their number one world ranking.

English cricket was on its knees following a texting scandal involving Kevin Pietersen and the retiring Andrew Strauss.

But what they lost over the course of a fascinating series, they gained tenfold in unearthing a burgeoning star like Bairstow.

12 years later, in the heart of the Himalayas, the 34-year-old will reach the milestone of 100 Test matches against India in Dharamshala.

While he becomes the 17th England player on an illustrious list to hit the landmark, very few have divided opinion like Bairstow. And very few have responded to criticism in the same incredible fashion.

With an average of 36 and 12 hundreds so far, many will contest that a player of his ability has significantly underachieved.

And while that could be true, you’d be hard pressed to deny the resilience of man who has flip-flopped up and down the order, with or without the gloves and endured significant periods of time outside the XI.

He has had those low moments and deservedly been dropped.

The media have ripped into him, sometimes unfairly.

But at the heart of Bairstow’s game, despite the adversity, is a man who ALWAYS puts the team first. Who doesn’t think of personal records. And will do everything in his power to influence Test matches for his country.

At the peak of his powers, Bairstow is freakishly good. And the era of Bazball has only served to highlight his talent and an approach that promotes swagger bordering on arrogance.

In 10 Tests across 2022, Bairstow hit a staggering 1061 runs with six centuries at an average of 66.31 and strike-rate of 76.

The highlights included an astonishing 92-ball 136 at Trent Bridge as England chased 299 in the fourth innings, and twin hundreds in the India Test at Edgbaston when the hosts chased a mammoth 378 for the loss of only three wickets.

This series, however, he’s been very quiet and not yet hit the form we all know he can do.

Nevertheless, in a 100th Test that many are speculating could be his last hoorah, do not write him off.

Because it will come back to haunt you.

India beware- Bairstow is a man that thrives on being doubted and criticised.

Special occasions can bring special performances…