Jonny Bairstow cannot wait for his next visit to India despite England's 5-0 ODI defeat there.
Keeper-batsman joins Strauss, Prior and Morgan on EPP trip
Jonny Bairstow cannot wait for his return to India with the England Performance Programe despite the 5-0 thrashing in October's one-day series.
The 22-year-old batsman could be forgiven for second thoughts about a quick return to a country where he and his England team-mates endured such a defeat.
It was confirmed on Thursday that the numbers on the England Performance Programme trip for aspiring batsmen and spin bowlers to Pune and Mumbai will be bolstered by a three-strong fully-fledged Test match contingent, headed by captain Andrew Strauss.
And Bairstow is relishing the chance to address some of the issues which saw him return from India with just 49 runs from four innings, as England's batsmen faltered en masse.
He will also be out to impress Strauss, and pick his brains as well as those of England wicketkeeper Matt Prior and batsman Eoin Morgan who are also on the trip.
Fast bowlers Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Chris Tremlett and Graham Onions travel to South Africa along with the EPP's up-and-coming seamers.
England are therefore prescribing preparation time, before the new year tour to the United Arab Emirates against Pakistan, for all those regulars who were not involved in India.
For Bairstow, the return to the sub-continent cannot come soon enough.
"I think it's fantastic to be going back there for these three weeks, to learn how to play in those conditions and groove your skills," he said.
"It was the first time I'd ever been to the sub-continent, put in the environment of international cricket for the first time - away from your home country - and it was obviously tough.
"There are areas to improve on, and that's why we're going back.
"It was never going to be easy. But we will all have learned from our experience, on and off the pitch."
Skipper
As for the presence of Strauss, that is an added bonus.
"I'm sure every one of us will be wanting to try to impress with the England captain coming out and us having the opportunity to work alongside someone who has been so successful," added Bairstow who, after just six ODIs, is already no stranger to international cricket's ups and downs.
He began his England career with an unbeaten 41 from just 22 balls to help wrap up a 3-0 home victory over India in Cardiff - and then added a quickfire century in a warm-up match in Hyderabad.
"You can't get too far ahead of yourself," he said.
"Ten weeks ago, I'd finished my season... my bag was in the garage, and I was ready for winter.
"It's all changed, and it's fantastic."
As well as Strauss' wisdom in India, Bairstow will be able to rely on the expert advice of Graham Thorpe - once an England batsman for all seasons, now batting coach.
Thorpe is looking forward to imparting his knowledge about how to do yourself justice in all conditions.
Spin
"I'm pleased the programmes this winter are Asian, because it will open up their eyes very quickly to what it is all about over there," he said of Bairstow and his young colleagues.
"You just don't know what opportunities are going to arise. If someone had said last year that Jonny Bairstow, coming off our performance programme, would have played six ODIs by now I'd have been very surprised.
"But through his attitude and performance, he's shown that anything is possible. It's a great example for the lads coming on to the programme this year... if you work hard and make progress, you can put pressure on the guys who are in the England team."
Bairstow himself will not waste the opportunity to quiz his mentor.
"I'll be speaking to Thorpey - because he was obviously a fantastic player of spin and played out in the sub-continent quite a bit.
"You are fed bits of information from everyone, and you try to sift that and put it into one place in your own mind that is clear."
He believes he has learned much already from one month in India, but Bairstow is giving nothing away when it comes to the technical specifics.
Will he be doing anything differently next time he goes out to bat there?
"Yes, definitely. I'm going to work on it, and then if it comes off you'll see."
The expression, like the answer, is inscrutable. But it will be no surprise if there are some strains of Thorpe in the wrists and footwork when Bairstow tries again.
