Jonny Bairstow the veteran wicketkeeperbatter for England has adeptly navigated the waters of criticism viewing it as an integral part of the game and showcasing readiness to respond when necessary. Doubts surrounding his spot in the playing eleven emerged notably with the presence of players like Sam Curran on the bench.
However, in a rain-affected game against Namibia, Jonny Bairstow scored 31 runs off just 18 balls, helping England achieve a difficult total of 122 runs in their 10 overs.
Speaking to media after the game, Jonny Bairstow was reported as stating by IANS about queries about his spot:
“It’s not the first time that people have had a go at me, is it? So yeah, you take it on the chin, and you crack on. But look, at the end of the day, there’s a reason why I’ve played for so long, and there’s a reason why I’m in the team.
“So maybe sometimes the opinions and the views that come through certain people’s eyes are incorrect and maybe need to look at themselves.”
Jonny Bairstow
Bairstow’s cameo, along with Harry Brook’s blistering 47(20), proved to be the difference between the two teams, as Namibia fell comfortably short (84/3) of the revised aim of 126.
Jonny Bairstow on his middle-order role in T20 World Cup
Jonny Bairstows prowess truly shines through as a T20 cricket opener. The unconventional move to position him at No. 3 or 4 caused quite a stir. Nevertheless Bairstows unwavering confidence in his adaptability to any situation is remarkable. He eagerly anticipates forging impactful partnerships with Harry Brook in the upcoming matches.
On this, he said:
“You go out there and you perform in the positions that you’re asked to do so. That partnership in the middle there, like I said, after losing two early on was an imperative partnership and something that, look, if Harry and I can bat for a period of time through the middle, there’s going to be some decent scores.”
Jonny Bairstow
Scotland lost their last group game to Australia, but England qualified as the second side from Group B for the Super 8 phase due to a higher net run rate than the Scots.