England vs India: Jonny Bairstow credits impressive run of form to freedom from Covid protocols

Star England batter Jonny Bairstow reckons that freedom from the Covid protocols and clarity from new head coach Brendon McCullum are the driving forces behind his rich vein of form in Test cricket.

Bairstow struck 106 and 114 not out to star in England’s seven-wicket win over India in the rescheduled fifth Test. Before that, he scored 1, 16, 8, 136, 162, and 71 not out in the three-match Test series against New Zealand which England won 3-0.

Bairstow is now the batter with the most number of Test runs in 2022 as he has amassed 994 runs from eight matches at an astonishing average of 76.46. Moreover, Bairstow is the first-ever batter to slam six Test tons in a calendar year while batting at number five or lower.

“It’s the freedom we have now. We’re not in hotel rooms, bubbles, having to do Covid tests every day and we can do normal things like go to the shop, go for a beer, see your friends and family,” Bairstow told the Tailenders podcast.

“All of those things accumulate together and obviously the excitement of working with Baz (McCullum) and the clarity he gave everyone.”

England’s four successive Test victories recently have come by playing aggressive cricket under New Zealander McCullum.

Bairstow missed the beginning of the county season this summer as he was playing in the Indian Premier League. But McCullum told him that would not affect his place in the Test team.

“Before we played New Zealand, there was chat about going to the IPL and not playing county cricket but Baz phoned me, said I was batting five in the Tests, to get my head around it and crack on,” Bairstow said.

“Baz also spoke to me a bit about imposing myself on the game – nothing technical. That can be tricky in red-ball cricket because you don’t want to look like you’re slogging.

“I had two nets before the first game so finding the balance was interesting. I played a shot-a-ball at Lord’s (scoring one and 16) which didn’t go down too well and then found the balance better at Trent Bridge (scoring 136).”

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