Jonny Bairstow talks about the reason for his Dad's suicide

Jonny Bairstow’s recent exploits with the bat have been crucial in determining England’s recent success against the Windies. He’s expected to be an integral part of the English team setup as they travel down under for the Ashes. The 28-year-old has been in stupendous form recently.

However, many don’t know the journey of the wicketkeeper-batsman. Bairstow had a really tough childhood. His father committed suicide when he was just eight years of age. The English star is now coming up with a book to describe his journey.

A Clear Blue Sky

Speaking at an event about his upcoming book titled A Clear Blue Sky, he said, “The book is called A Clear Blue Sky and that’s what’s above Headingley at the moment. Most people believe their family is special. I know mine is.”

The book is expected to throw light on why his dad David Bairstow committed suicide. When asked what was the purpose of revealing the reason after 20 yesrs, he stated, “There was no real reason to do it now to be honest. We thought about it for a while, didn’t we, and stewed over whether it was right or wrong. But, when dad passed away there were things in the press that were not correct.”

I wasn’t too sure

His mother, Janet who was battling cancer during the incident expressed her perspective: “And whether we wanted to do it. Whether we wanted to put things out there. There were a few details people didn’t know about. It has only ever been between us. There was a presumption among some that they knew what had happened and knew better than us. There were a lot of things I wasn’t too sure about sharing in the book but it’s 20 years in January since David died, so maybe it is time. He was an important cricketer was David, and for him to die at the age he did,” she said.

Further speaking on the ups and downs in David’s career and his retirement, Janet added, “I don’t think I will ever find out why it happened and I think it’s the same with anybody who does something like that. You can punish yourself for all time but I don’t think you ever truly know. You can’t look back. You have to look forward.”

She tried to explain the sequence of events. “That’s what we’ve always done and that’s what we’re still doing. He had set up a business that didn’t go too well after he retired as a player but then we set up another one that was doing all right. He wasn’t too bad within himself and he did have money. He wasn’t broke as a lot of people have always assumed. He didn’t have a lot but he did have some. So I can’t explain…”