Jonny Bairstow has promised he won’t be following Ben Stokes ’ example and quitting any form of cricket for England.
The in-form batsman has been the star turn this summer with the way he has dominated the Test arena against New Zealand and India. Despite England’s white ball struggles as a side, Bairstow has found his groove there too with a sparkling 63 up at Durham on Tuesday.
With injuries to the likes of Jofra Archer, Mark Wood and Chris Woakes, Bairstow is now the only fit and available all format cricketer who is in heavy demand from all three teams. The 32-year-old is loving the switch from squad to squad thanks to the freshness that it brings.
“Naturally there are challenges,” Bairstow told Sky Sports. “But I’ll be trying to play all the formats for as long as possible.
“There might be a time when, for different reasons, that you do have to make a decision, but in the near future I don’t see myself making a choice. I’ll be going all out for as long as I can.
“I’m loving being a part of all three squads. They are all different in themselves and it is great to be a part of each one. It is exciting. There is a freshness when you go into each one, there are new faces and a new energy because it is a new format.”
Bairstow has certainly enjoyed the new freedom that has arrived this summer, not just to play ‘Bazball’ in the Test arena, but that actual freedom that has coincided with the relaxing of Covid protocols. The ability to perform in front of full houses and then get out and about from the team hotel had been something Bairstow missed but he and the Three Lions are able to roam freely now.
“I do feel good,” said Bairstow. “There’s definitely a difference now whether it is coming out of the back of Covid. I hated Covid.
“I wasn’t someone who enjoyed being cooped up in a hotel. Not being able to see my friends and family and go out for dinner and do the normal things.
“I didn’t like being stuck in a hotel room. I’m not a gamer that’s not me. So to be able to come back and get revved up by the crowd is great.
“I feed off the crowd’s energy and my personality has been able to come back out. I’m loving everything about it at the moment.”
Bairstow is also loving the sensational form he is in too with twin Test tons against India a career highlight. He is showing just how robust his technique is across the formats and he has a tip for any young player considering focusing solely on T20 cricket. Don’t.
“My basics are the same across all three formats,” he added. “For me it is all about playing strong shots, sometimes to my detriment, but that is how I like to go about it.
“There is the lure of playing in T20 leagues and earning a quick buck, let’s be honest about that. But everything comes from your basic technique which you learn in four day cricket and then expand from that.
“If you are just looking at T20 cricket it can become tricky. Look at people who have sustained it over many years, it is the basic technique that they have expanded from.”
