Agency :
Jonny Bairstow put England – and his own Test career – back on track with a high-class century on the first day of the third Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo on Friday. England made 312 for the loss of seven wickets at the close of first day play.
After Joe Root won the toss for the eighth time in succession in Test cricket; one short of the all-time record for an individual captain, Bairstow made 110 to help England take advantage of first use of a dry track that is expected to offer more help for spinners as the game wears on. It also compensated for a slightly underwhelming display from his colleagues.
It had been a tough few weeks for Bairstow. After suffering an ankle injury during the limited-overs section of the tour, he has had to watch on as Ben Foakes was called into the squad as a replacement and seized his chance so well it has become hard to see how Bairstow could reclaim the gloves.
There was no recall even after he recovered his fitness. Bairstow was left out of the team for the Kandy Test and won a recall here only after Sam Curran was ruled out with a side strain.
There was a catch, though. The only spot available for Bairstow was at No. 3; a position for which he had never previously showed any enthusiasm and in which he had little experience for Yorkshire.
Jonny Bairstow put England – and his own Test career – back on track with a high-class century on the first day of the third Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo on Friday. England made 312 for the loss of seven wickets at the close of first day play.
After Joe Root won the toss for the eighth time in succession in Test cricket; one short of the all-time record for an individual captain, Bairstow made 110 to help England take advantage of first use of a dry track that is expected to offer more help for spinners as the game wears on. It also compensated for a slightly underwhelming display from his colleagues.
It had been a tough few weeks for Bairstow. After suffering an ankle injury during the limited-overs section of the tour, he has had to watch on as Ben Foakes was called into the squad as a replacement and seized his chance so well it has become hard to see how Bairstow could reclaim the gloves.
There was no recall even after he recovered his fitness. Bairstow was left out of the team for the Kandy Test and won a recall here only after Sam Curran was ruled out with a side strain.
There was a catch, though. The only spot available for Bairstow was at No. 3; a position for which he had never previously showed any enthusiasm and in which he had little experience for Yorkshire.
