England wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow has been phenomenal in the fourth Test against Australia. In response to Australia’s first-innings score of 317, England’s ‘Bazball’ was on full display as they scored a whopping 592 in the first innings. After Zak Crawley‘s marvellous 189 off 182, Bairstow was the wrecker-in-chief, scoring an unbeaten 99 off 81.
Bairstow’s 99 included ten fours and four sixes. He couldn’t complete his century as he was stranded on the other end before England were bowled out. Bairstow, after his innings, spoke about his Test career and slammed trolls and critics. While speaking with Sky Sports, he said the criticism he receives time and again are “rubbish”.
“Everyone thinks that I play better when people go at me; it gets a bit tiresome, to be honest with you. I’ve played a lot of cricket now, and I keep being told that you’re rubbish. Well, if I were rubbish, I wouldn’t have played 94 games. I’ve been happy with my form. There’s been a couple of interesting dismissals during the series, but it was only a couple of games ago that I got 70-odd, so it is what it is”, said Bairstow.
It could have ended my career: Bairstow
Speaking further about his ankle injury that he sustained last year, Bairstow admitted that it could have ended his career. He said, “You just don’t know how bad it’s going to be. It could have ended my career. I’ve got nine pins and a wire that goes through my ankle, and I’ve had nine months out. I’m still only 10 months post-op right now. So when you speak to the surgeon and he says, ‘I’m surprised you’re walking and running, never mind playing professional sport’, I’m delighted to be where I’m at.”
Notably, England has a resounding lead of 162 runs over Australia, as the visitors have scored just 113/4 in the second inning at the stroke of Day 3. Australia batters Marnus Labuschange and Mitchell Marsh are in the middle and would like to build a partnership to bring them back in the mix.
Here is how fans reacted to Jonny Bairstow’s comments:
94 😵
— MJGooner📢 (@ImMayurJindal) July 22, 2023
Bodied Chokli 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/fKKCYpC1NH
— ` (@ainteasysky) July 22, 2023
Wont make u relevant without McCullum
— Harman (@62AtTheGabba) July 22, 2023
He's played 94??? Woww
— Althaf (@Althafrma) July 22, 2023
Bairstrow > Kohli
— Ganguly (@140off113) July 22, 2023
Definitely better wk batsman than dhobi imo. 👍👍
— 🙁 (@gheyforrohit) July 22, 2023
🤣🤣🤣 bodied Alex poori
— Ganguly (@140off113) July 22, 2023
Chup bhaise
— sword$man🦇 (@backwardpoint_) July 22, 2023
— Rutik Dawange (@dawange_rutik) July 22, 2023
He is rubbish 🗑
— Sayak Atta (@sayak_atta) July 22, 2023
Zero cares pic.twitter.com/2elLveWsK9
— 𝚁𝚞𝚗 𝙼𝚊𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚎⚡ (@82off52) July 22, 2023
Rahane being the biggest Fraud in the world has played 85 tests so it's not a big thing for Jonny
— . (@King30586298) July 22, 2023
He is a rubbish player though @jbairstow21
— . (@KOHLIdeTestGOAT) July 22, 2023
