England vs New Zealand: Jonny Bairstow credits IPL 2022 stint for match-winning century in second Test

Veteran England wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow has recently revealed that several people have asked him not to take part in the Indian Premier League before the Test series against New Zealand.

Jonny Bairstow managed to smash a century. (Image credit: 7Cricket Twitter)
By Shurti Banerjee | Jun 16, 2022 | 2 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

Veteran England wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow has recently revealed that several people have asked him not to take part in the Indian Premier League before the Test series against New Zealand. However, Bairstow admitted that the IPL was integral to his stunning hundred against New Zealand at Trent Bridge. However, Bairstow got the ‘Man of the Match’ award in England’s five-wicket victory on the final day of the second Test against New Zealand on June 14 as well. He hit a 92-ball 136 while chasing 299 and added 179 runs with the captain Ben Stokes to take the team home as well.

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He has also opined on facing opinions that he shouldn’t have been featured in the Indian Premier League before the Test series and also shared that the tournament helps switch gears when it was needed. But, the veteran has also acknowledged that the current scheduling doesn’t allow players to have it both ways as well. He said as quoted by the Daily Mirror: “There were a lot of people that were saying I should not be at the IPL and I should be playing county cricket. That’s part and parcel of the game. But there’s also elements to it where you are playing against the best in the world at the IPL.”

“Everyone has got complete backing from Brendon and Ben about how they want to go about their games” – Jonny Bairstow

He continued: “So being able to have those gears, to be able to go and switch them up, switch them down is important. Yes, people say it would be fantastic if you had four games of red-ball cricket under your belt. Unfortunately, that doesn’t happen in the current scheduling of everything around the world.”

However, Jonny Bairstow, who has scored three centuries in his last six Tests, reached the three-figure mark in only 75 balls. He smashed seven sixes in his knock and helped the hosts clinch the series with one match in hand. He also credited Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum for giving him the freedom and he is also excited to play under them in future too.

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“Everyone has got complete backing from Brendon and Ben about how they want to go about their games. I’ve played under lots of coaches and captains and they’ve all brought different good bits out of me, and I’m extremely excited about the vision Brendon and Ben have for the team. It has only been a couple of weeks so the relationship is evolving and everyone is learning their part, but there hasn’t been a negative thought in the dressing room. It is the start of an exciting journey,” Jonny Bairstow concluded.

The third and final Test will begin on June 23 at Headingley in Leeds.





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