Jonny Bairstow wants regular spot in England's first-choice 50-over team
Friday 2 September 2016 12:47, UK
Jonny Bairstow has admitted he longs for the day when he is back in England's first-choice 50-over team.
Bairstow (61) - on his home ground at Headingley - and Ben Stokes (69) rescued Eoin Morgan's team from 72 for four against Pakistan, with the pair's century stand helping the hosts reach a target of 247 in the fourth Royal London Series match.
The Yorkshireman got the tap on the shoulder from coach Trevor Bayliss to get his gloves on for wicketkeeping, or his pads ready in the middle order, only two minutes before his captain went out to toss up because Jos Buttler hurt his hamstring in the warm-up.
Asked how late the call was, he said: "It was about 32 minutes before the start. Trev came over and just said 'you're in'.
"I'd got a message this morning saying Jos was fit, so I just prepared as if I was 12th man. [But] you crack on and you get stuck in - you don't have a choice really, do you?
"Naturally, I'm frustrated not to be in that XI week in, week out. Every time I get an opportunity I want to try to impress, and that's all I can do.
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"Whether that be keeping wicket, just playing as a batter, batting at one or 11, every time you go out there you try to do your best.
"Opportunities at the moment are a bit few and far between. You've just got to take it on the chin, crack on and hope you take the opportunity when it does come along."
He had been in the same position before when he was a late replacement for Buttler last summer against New Zealand at Chester-le-Street after he split the webbing in his hand.
Then, as in this latest four-wicket victory which continued England's unbeaten white-ball run this summer and took them into a 4-0 series lead, Bairstow took the starring role.
The 26-year-old took to Twitter soon after the Headingley match to dedicate the man-of-the-match display to his late father David, who killed himself in 1998. He posted: "Delighted with today... Special day! Happy Birthday Dad... That's one for you! #mom #headingley"
Pakistan's chances of defending an under-par target were hampered when Mohammad Irfan pulled up with a hamstring injury too and was unable to complete his overs after two early wickets. Coach Mickey Arthur was far from happy about that.
"It's very frustrating," he said of the physical ailment encountered by the giant left-armer in his first match of the summer.
"There were checks and balances in place [about Irfan's fitness]. He was put on standby when we selected our one-day squad. He went to the national academy and did his training."
However, Arthur sounded in awe of the power-hitting he has seen at England's disposal in this series.
"It's been an eye-opener for me, the last four games," the South African said. "England are a phenomenal cricket team, power-hitters all the way down. I look at the strikers England have at their disposal - it's unbelievable."
