One of the blazing English cricketers, Jonathan Marc Bairstow, has garnered popularity for his wondrous batting techniques. Jonny Bairstow has perfectly blended in modern-age cricket with flamboyance and natty skills. Ever since he broke into the national side, Bairstow has cemented his berth with consistent performances and is currently one of the best in the business.
He scored 532 runs from 11 matches at an average of over 48 including two centuries and fifties each and led England from the front. Overall, the 31-year-old keeper-batsman boasts six Test centuries in 74 matches and 11 ODI centuries in 86 games till now.
In this article, have a look at these 7 intriguing facts about Jonny Bairstow:
1. Cricket in Family
Jonny was born on 26th September 1989 to Janet Bairstow and late David Leslie Bairstow in Bradford, UK. His father was a wicket-keeper batsman and represented England in 4 Tests and 21 One Day Internationals and captained Yorkshire from 1984 to 1986. Jonny’s half-brother Andrew Bairstow played for Derbyshire. Jonny lost his father in 1998 when he was only eight.
2. Teen Prodigy
At the age of 18, the cricket-prodigy was pronounced as the Young Wisden Schools Cricketer of the year in 2007. He amassed 654 runs playing for St Peter’s School, York in that year. In 2008, Jonny Bairstow played for Yorkshire’s Second XI and plundered 308 runs at a average of 61.6 including an unbeaten knock of 139 against Worcestershire.
This resilient form garnered the right-handed batsman a two-year professional contract with Yorkshire. Following his father’s footsteps, Jonny also represents York.
3. Love for Sports
Sport has dominated his life since an early age. He went to St Peter’s School that enabled him to grow as an athlete. Bairstow has believed that different sports teach different skills and disciplines. He discovered his love for rugby at St Peter’s. Jonny also likes golf and racing and plays on off times.
4. Glittering International Debuts
Bairstow lived the dream debut in One Day International cricket. Getting his cap in 2011 at Cardiff, Jonny Bairstow smashed 41 from just 21 balls. He helped England chase down 241, Duckworth-Lewis adjusted the total and received the man-of-the-match award. The ginger man received his Test cap on 17th May 2012 at Lord’s against West Indies. Former English legend Geoffrey Boycott presented him with the cap. Boycott is close to the Bairstow family.
5. Memorable World Cup
England wicket-keeper batsman Jonny Bairstow became the first English man to score successive centuries in the 2019 edition of the World Cup. He scored centuries each against India and New Zealand. The back-to-back tons ensured England’s place in the playoffs, the first time since 1992. They finally managed to win the title for the first time in history under the leadership of Eoin Morgan.
6. Debut Test century in Cape Town in 2016
After waiting for years, Jonny Bairstow finally scored his maiden Test century on 3rd January 2016 in South Africa with his mother and sister present in the stands. Jonny knitted a 399-run partnership with Ben Stokes that stands as the highest sixth-wicket partnership in Tests. He was unbeaten on 150 from 191 balls before skipper Alastair Cook declared the innings on 629-6.
7. Phenomenal Performance in IPL
Bluey (inherited his father’s nickname) joined Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2019. In his inaugural season, he fired a century against Royal Challengers Bangalore and his partnership with skipper David Warner at the top of the order was deadly. The right-hand-left hand combination smacked the opposition bowlers.
They became the first team in history to share three-century partnerships in IPL history. In 22 IPL games, he has scored 845 runs at an average of 42.25 including one century and six fifties.
Also Read: IPL 2021: 5 Unknown Facts About Eoin Morgan