Two weeks after the astonishing innings of 136 that swung the Trent Bridge Test in England’s favour, Jonny Bairstow produced another from the same thrilling mould, heaving the hosts from the brink of disaster to end the day 264 for six and in arrears by a relatively trivial 65, declaring: “This is the way that I’ve always been capable of playing.”
Bairstow ended the second day unbeaten on 130, having compiled a wild partnership of 209 off 223 balls with the debutant Jamie Overton, every run met with a roar by raucous fans at his home ground. There has been much talk of England’s full-bore positivity under their new coach, Brendon McCullum, and the captaincy of Ben Stokes. Its long-term impact remains to be seen but Bairstow certainly seems a player transformed.
