Jonny Bairstow on England, the Olympics and Team Moeen
Thursday 11 August 2016 10:16, UK
Jonny Bairstow reflects on one of his best wins for England, picks his ideal Olympic relay team and talks us through his sweet left-footed volley for Team Moeen…
Edgbaston was certainly one of the best wins I've experienced in an England shirt.
Obviously the first couple of days didn't go our way but the resilience we showed to come back to force a win on day five was brilliant.
The Test has meant I haven't been able to watch much of the start of the Olympics, so I didn't manage to catch Adam Peaty's world-record swim for gold.
I've got a couple of friends out in Rio though - both playing hockey, one for the men and one for the women; Alastair Brogdon and Samantha Quek. I'd like to wish them a huge amount of luck and I hope they both come home with two very shiny gold medals.
If I was competing in Rio, I'd like to have a go at the decathlon - the ultimate test of a true all-rounder - while I'd love to see Rooty on the shotput. Good luck!
I also know who'd be my 4x100 relay team; we'd have James Vince running the opening leg, then Chris Woakes round the bend, down the back straight. Then I'd fly round the final bend before handing the baton over to Steve Finn to run it home.
Why Finny? Because he can stick his nose out to give us that edge on the dip for the line. That should see off Usain Bolt and the Jamaicans.
The Premier League returns this weekend, and so it was a lot of fun to have our usual football warm-up before play filmed by Sky at Edgbaston - the cameras picking up my sweet left-footed strike.
Bumble did a sterling job as referee, despite Nasser giving him a lot of stick on the sidelines. He was fair on both sides and let the game flow.
I think it's only fair if Nass puts his money where his mouth is and maybe refs the game next time. He can't be any worse than his commentating - it's fair to say I don't think he or Athers will be troubling Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville with their analysis anytime soon.
As for my goal, I would think it's up there as one of the best I've ever scored. It was a decent ball in by Rooty, I took it on my right, and then banged it in with my left on the half volley into the bottom right corner. It was great to come from behind and get the draw for Team Moeen.
Moeen was outstanding on the field and was deservedly man of the match at Edgbaston. He is a pretty chilled character, and I really enjoy batting with him. We have a good understanding.
Looking back on the Test, we finished a lot of days the stronger of the two teams - mine and Mo's partnership on day four, Hales and Cook setting the platform on day three, and that wicket of Azhar Ali, with the last ball of the second day, was huge.
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It gave us a big lift as a team coming back the next day knowing we had one less wicket to take. Then to be able to limit the deficit to just over 100 runs was fantastic.
Hales and Cook's partnership made it possible for us to kick on and set Pakistan a target. Of course there were times during that final day where you fear it might not be your day, but all of the bowlers put their hands up, each taking two wickets.
Jimmy bowled a hugely skilful spell of reverse swing to get rid of Younis Khan, and everyone was delighted for Finny - he has been bowling really well but with not very much luck - when he got the key wickets of Misbah and Sami.
I'm pleased with the way things are going in my game at the moment, but there is still a long way to go with both my batting and my wicket keeping.
I saw Sky picked a current World Test XI during the game, and I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't say it was an ambition of mine to ultimately be seen as the No 1 in the world in my position.
As a team we might be able to claim No 1 spot if we win this week at The Oval and other results go out way, but all of that stuff is just a bonus. We're solely focused on this game, all that other stuff will fall into place.
Things can change very quickly in this game, and have done so already within this series, so we know how tough it's going to be. But at the same time, we're confident we can go out there and put in another strong performance.
As a team we might be able to claim number one spot if we win this week at The Oval and other results go out way, but all of that stuff is just a bonus.
There's another game I'll have an eye on too this week, as will Rooty. Yorkshire are playing Glamorgan in Cardiff in the T20 Blast quarter-finals on Thursday night and we'll be sure to find a spot to watch it and cheer the lads on.
Watch the fourth Test between England and Pakistan from The Oval, live on Sky Sports 2 from 10am on Thursday.
