Jonny Bairstow has accomplished his monumental workload for the winter and expressed his delight at the prospect of returning to Test cricket this summer to play for the team headed by Brendon McCullum.
There is no denying that Bairstow is comparable to Brendon McCullum in terms of their abilities as strong, all-action wicket-keeper batsmen across all formats of the game. McCullum established a high standard for New Zealand during his time playing for the national team.
But also Bairstow revealed that he would be picking McCullum’s brain once it comes time to make the late transition from Indian T20 League to middle-order mastermind as England will demand the first Test at iconic Lord’s which will take place this week.
“There is excitement there with Brendon in charge of the Test side. Because of the blend of how he played his cricket and his coaching style and how that all fits together. There will be comparisons between us but I also think it is slightly different as well. Going from the IPL back to here, he is someone I looked up to”, said Bairstow.
I’ll definitely be trying to pick his brains: Bairstow on McCullum
But it’s in the Test arena that Bairstow, who is looking remarkably refreshed, is expecting to make a huge impact as England attempts to get off to a promising start in the Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum combination.
“When I started my career, he was someone who was unbelievable at what he did. So I’ll definitely be trying to pick his brains on a few bits but at the same time going out and playing my game and my way. People know my desire to play for England, my desire to play Test cricket. That is something that I really want to be doing, and so there are things you are going to have to miss out on”, he added.
During the winter months of test cricket, Bairstow had some of his most memorable performances, including striking England’s lone century in the Ashes series in Australia and then achieving the same again in the West Indies. The 5 tests were sandwiched between 17 T20 matches played during the World Cup and the Indian Premier League. This implies that he’ll have to find some way to go back into that red-hot red-ball form in order to demonstrate to McCullum precisely what sort of expertise he has to lead the side.
“I’m delighted with how I have come out of the winter and the way I played in Test cricket. I was happy with the situations and circumstances that I scored my runs. When you have to get the hard runs, they are the rewarding runs. When you have to score the tough runs and stand up for the side. That’s the bit I was most proud of”, the 32-year-old concluded.
The Kiwi bowler Trent Boult, who played Sunday’s final with the Rajasthan Royals(RR) and is a late arrival, will not be able to make the switch rapidly in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Henry Nicholls is also unlikely to play after recuperating from COVID which has also sidelined England bowler Ollie Robinson.
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