By Two days before the fifth and final Test of the series, Jonny Bairstow took a moment to pose for photos against the backdrop of snow-capped mountains at the HPCA Cricket stadium in Dharamsala. “I don’t think there’s a more picturesque ground in the world,” he remarked, although his focus was on a different milestone. Come Thursday, Bairstow, like R Ashwin on the opposing side, will join the elite 100-Test club.
“It is going to be an emotional week. Absolutely. I am very proud, I am an emotional kind of guy. So at some point get the tears ready, the tissues even,” the England batter joked. “It [playing 100 Tests] means a hell of a lot. Every young kid that sets out on a journey of playing professional cricket wants to try and play a 100 Test matches.”
The Dharamsala game will see 5000 England fans in the stands, including Bairstow’s friends and family. “It’s great to have them [friends and family] out here. It’s an amazing place to come. They’ve come to some pretty cool places along the way as well. It’s fantastic to have some family and some friends out here. It’s a magnificent place. Some of them haven’t been to India previously so it is a special occasion for everyone who’s been on the journey, from the guys at Yorkshire on the academy all the way to Baz [McCullum] and the guys here,” Bairstow said.
While he admitted he’d love to mark his milestone with a century, Bairstow hoped to approach the game as he always has, focusing on his team’s success. Despite a challenging tour, Bairstow remains positive. “Like in every game, you put your best foot forward. No matter what it is, I’ll be going out there, chewing my gum, puffing my chest out and trying to have a good time with the other ten blokes out there. Whatever the situation is, we’ll be going out there with smiles on our faces, like we have done in the whole series,” Bairstow said.
“I have felt good all series. [I’ve] just not got the runs I’ve wanted… a couple of good balls, a couple of bad decisions [on his part]. But that’s what happens in India, it’s allowed to happen. The whole trip I’ve been happy with how I’ve been moving, I’ve been in the zone the whole way,” he added.
Reflecting on his journey, Bairstow recalled some memorable moments, including Andrew Strauss’s final Test in 2012 and his maiden Test century in 2016. “You go back to certain ones that people won’t necessarily remember. Not necessarily milestones, but probably one of my favourite games that we didn’t get over the line – the game at Lord’s, we unfortunately didn’t win that. It was Straussy’s last game which was incredible to be part of his last game. To play against that South Africa team in their pomp was special.
“I think the Cape Town 100 in 2016 was a special time again, for the family and myself and everyone. Then it is between Trent Bridge against New Zealand and the Test match at Edgbaston against India. I think it is difficult to go beyond that summer. I think they were pretty special Test matches in the way that the group came together and the way in which everyone bought into a style of play that the world started speaking about.”
England will look to Bairstow’s experience and determination as they aim to become the first touring side since Alastair Cook’s England in 2012 to win two Tests in a series in India.
