Sky Cricket Podcast: Jonny Bairstow Special

Jonny Bairstow says England will be better equipped to take on Pakistan seamer Mohammad Amir in what promises to be a tough international summer.

SKY SPORTS CRICKET PODCAST (listen here)

Bairstow joined presenter Matt Floyd on the latest Sky Cricket Podcast to look ahead to next month's two-Test series against Pakistan - as well as the subsequent five-match contest against India - and outline some of the challenges in store.

Amir took 12 Test wickets on Pakistan's 2016 tour, his first series following his five-year ban for spot-fixing. After a chastening winter that included an Ashes mauling by Australia, Bairstow says England are looking forward to the challenge.

"We only played Pakistan about 18 months ago so we know what skills they've got on show and we know that they are going to come at us," he said.

"It will be a case of implementing our skills in our conditions and trying to exploit their weaknesses, especially with their batting against our bowling attack, which in England is one of the best in the world.

"I faced [Amir] the last time he was here. Obviously his return to Test cricket was something there was a lot of talk about; there was a lot of hype around that. In some ways we looked too far into it because you can over-analyse; he hadn't been in and around the Test environment for such a long time.

"But I think we will be more equipped now leading into this series. He will have learnt a lot over the last 18 months as well.

"He's obviously got decent pace. Early on with the new ball he'll look to take it away from the left-hander and catch an edge but at the same time he's got the straight one, so straight away there he's got two weapons.

"To the right-hander he'll try to swing it back and get you lbw or bowled. Likewise when it's not swinging as much he'll try and run it across you, to bring in that outside edge."

Click on the link at the top of this page to listen to the podcast in full, which includes Bairstow's thoughts on…

• How he's finding punditry, why it's something he wants to do in the future and what it's like analysing his England team-mates!
• His disappointment at not being picked up in the Indian Premier League auction - especially given his recent form in one-day cricket.
• His imminent return to action, when he and Joe Root will turn out for Yorkshire against Essex in the County Championship
• His reflections on a tough winter in which Australia outplayed England 'in all facets of cricket'.
• Why this summer's squad could be the strongest India party to have toured England for a while - and how England can come out on top in a keenly-fought series.
• Why Test cricket remains the pinnacle of the game for him and why he doesn't foresee becoming a T20 specialist any time soon.

Download the latest Sky Cricket podcast now!

Watch England take on Pakistan, Australia and India this summer on Sky Sports Cricket. For our full schedule click here.