16 Intriguing facts about Jonny Bairstow- A Prodigal talent

16 Intriguing facts about Jonny Bairstow- A Prodigal talent: Jonny Bairstow is a English Wicket-keeper batsman who is known for his blazing batting skills. Although English players are renowned for their classical batting but Bairstow is unlike them and plays the game with a lot of flair and flamboyance. Though his prodigal talents with the bat have never been a matter of question but his consistency has been a thing which has kept him in and out of the side.

Till now Jonny Bairstow has featured in 17 Tests for England and has accumulated 711 runs at an average of 27.34 with 5 half-centuries against his name. While in ODIs, he has scored 260 runs in 12 matches. In 19 T20Is, Jonny has stroked 195 runs at an strike-rate of 107.73

Today on the occasion of his 26^th birthday, we list 16 Intriguing facts about Jonny Bairstow- A Prodigal talent:

1. Birth:

Jonathan Marc Bairstow (Known as Jonny Bairstow) was born on 26 September, 1989 in Bradford, Yorkshire.

2. Family:

Jonny Bairstow is the son of former English Wicket-keeper batsman, David Bairstow while his brother Andy Bairstow is a First-Class cricketer.

3. Father’s death:

Jonny Bairstow was only 8 years old when his father passed away. His father, David Bairstow was suffering from depression and had committed suicide at his home in Marton-cum-Grafton, Yorkshire in 1998. Later his family left Marton-Cum-Grafton and moved to Dunnington.

4. Honors at early age:

Jonny Bairstow was adjudged the Young Wisden Schools Cricketer of the year after he plundered 654 runs representing St Peter’s School, York in the 2007 season.

5. Yorkshire’s second XI:

In 2008, Jonny Bairstow went on to represent Yorkshire’s second XI and accumulated 308 runs at an impressive average of 61.6. It also included his resilient unbeaten knock of 139 runs against Worcestershire. After his excellent performances, the right-hander signed a two-year professional contract with the county side.

6. Impressive First-class debut:

The stylish Yorkshire batter made his First-Class debut against Somerset at Leeds, in 2009. His gritty knock of 82 runs in the 2^nd innings of the match won him many accolades. When Somerset came out to bat in the 2^nd innings, Yorkshire’s regular Glove-man got injured and as a result Bairstow was made the stand-in keeper of the side. Jonny went on to take four catches in the innings.

7. First Ball duck:

The Yorkshireman made his List-A debut against Worcestershire in 2009. In his debut List-A match, he got out on a duck and was dismissed off the very first ball.

8. Dream debut in International cricket:

Jonny Bairstow made his ODI debut against India at Cardiff in 2011. England was chasing a Duckworth-Lewis adjusted total of 241 runs. Jonny Bairstow blasted a 21 ball 41 run knock which included 1 four and 3 sixes and helped his side chase down the total. For his awe-inspiring performance, he was named Man-of-the-Match.

Also Read – Team wise highest successful run chases in ODIs

9. Presentation of the Test cap:

On 17 May 2012, Jonny Bairstow was selected to represent the three lions in the whites and made his Test debut when Ravi Bopara was ruled out of the Lord’s Test against West Indies. Bairstow was presented his Test cap by the former English great, Geoffrey Boycott who happens to be a close family friend as well.

10. Most Memorable knock:

His most memorable knock came against South Africa in 2012 Lord’s Test. He hammered 95 runs with the help of 13 boundaries after coming out to bat when England was reeling at 54/4. Bairstow’s brilliant knock ensured that England ended up with a lead in the 1st innings. Jonny Bairstow left the field to a standing ovation. In the 2^nd innings as well he scored a half-century.

11. Yet to make an international century:

Till now Jonny Bairstow has represented England in 48 international matches and is yet to reach the three figure mark. His highest individual score is 95 which came in the whites against South Africa. Though, he has scored 7 half-centuries.

12. Poor World T20 2012 campaign:

The World T20 2012 which was held in Sri Lanka was a tournament which Jonny Bairstow would like to forget as he didn’t perform as well as he would have liked.

13. Ashes Debut:

On back of his superb knock of 64 runs against New Zealand at Leeds in 2013, he was selected in the Ashes squad. Jonny Bairstow made his Ashes debut at Nottingham and even played 4 Tests but could manage only one fifty in the series.

14. Series defining knock:

Few months ago, in the series decider match against New Zealand at Chester-le-Street, Jonny Bairstow played a brute knock of 83 runs which came off just 60 deliveries and ensured a famous series win for the English team. There was a time when England was struggling at 45/5 while chasing the target of 192 runs.

15. Blistering County form:

After England lost the 2^nd Ashes Test this year, Jonny Bairstow was recalled in the side for the 3^rd Test after he had compiled 906 runs in the domestic Championship at 100.66 with five centuries to his credit.

16. Highest Seventh-wicket partnership:

Few months ago against Durham, the pair of Jonny Bairstow and Tim Bresnan shared the highest seventh-wicket partnership in the history of the County Championship. They added 366 runs and shattered the previous record partnership of 344 runs for the seventh-wicket shared between K S Ranjitsinhji and Billy Newham for Sussex against Essex at Leyton in 1902.