3. Jonny Bairstow
The 31-year-old Yorkshire man representing Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL has a heart-wrenching past. The keeper-batsman who has won many accolades with his modern-day batting skills lost his father David Bairstow when he was 8. Jonny’s father David was also a keeper-batsman and played cricket for Yorkshire and England. David Bairstow hanged himself in their house after going through depression and financial troubles. Jonny’s mother, sister, and Jonny found him dead after they returned home from his football training at Leeds United.
Life threw another challenge at the Bairstow as his mother Janet was diagnosed with cancer. She was receiving treatment when his father died. Cancer relapsed aggressively in 2012. After his father’s death, the family dealt with a financial crisis. Jonny’s mother had to purchase their school uniforms from second-hand shops.
As soon as Jonny grew up and discovered his passion for cricket, keeping came naturally to him like a hallmark. When he joined Yorkshire academy, he immediately was christened Bluey, the nickname that his father boasted once. Jonny announced his international arrival in 2011. In 2019 he received Sunrisers Hyderabad’s contract and had a blitzkrieg season. Jonny still dons the Orange jersey in IPL.
