'We'll go about it as to whatever set' - Jonny Bairstow explains England's Test strategy

India have gained a huge lead of 257 runs at the end of day three in the ongoing rescheduled fifth Test match against England. With two days remaining and India playing at 125/3, it looks like a mammoth target is on the way for England batters in their second innings. But the in-form English batter Jonny Bairstow is looking forward to chasing whatever target India put up in the Edgbaston Test.

Bairstow continued his red-hot form by scoring his third consecutive Test century and thanks to his knock, England managed to put 284 runs on the scoreboard, replying to India’s 416 runs in the first innings. England bowlers took some early wickets in the second innings and India looked in trouble at 75 for three. But the veteran batter Cheteshwar Pujara scored an unbeaten 50 runs off 139 balls to keep India ahead of the hosts. He also formed an unbeaten 50-run partnership with Rishabh Pant and both the players are looking set for a big score on day four.

We’ll be going about it in the same manner: Jonny Bairstow

England, under the new management of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, played an attacking-minded cricket against New Zealand in the three-match Test series. They set the world record for the highest run rate in a Test series (minimum five innings) while chasing a 250-plus target in each match. India are likely to set a 400-plus target but Bairstow believes that they will approach any target in the same manner and he will be looking to take the game forward.

“Whatever is set is set and we’ll go about it as to whatever set. There’s no point in looking at figures and everything on that. We know that this, we know we’re planning a Test match. We know this is going to be day four and day five pitches that we’re going to be playing on. That’s okay. And yeah, we’ll be going about it in the same manner. And I’m looking to take the game forward,” Bairstow said in the post-match conference.