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Jonny Bairstow says he is set for an “emotional week” as he becomes the 16th man to play 100 Tests for England.
Yorkshire batter Bairstow will reach the landmark in the fifth Test against India in Dharamsala, 12 years after making his debut against West Indies.
“It’s an amazing week, an amazing place and an amazing occasion,” Bairstow told BBC Sport.
“To be out there with some of your best pals, enjoying the occasion. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Bairstow, 34, follows Ben Stokes to a century of England caps, after the captain achieved the milestone in the third Test of the series.
Bairstow’s journey has not been as straightforward as contemporaries like Stokes and Joe Root. Whereas Bairstow is England’s second-longest-serving current player after James Anderson, he has missed 51 of the Tests played since he made his debut at Lord’s in 2012.
Injuries have played a part, most notably a horrific broken leg sustained on a golf course in 2022, but Bairstow has also had spells when he has been left out of the side. He has endured periods of poor form, but has also been a victim of his versatility – batting up and down the order and having spells as wicketkeeper and without the gloves.
“Throughout the whole journey of being an international sportsman and a sportsman in general, there will be challenges,” Bairstow told BBC Sport.
“It’s about how you react to those challenges. There will be setbacks along the way. It’s not about the amount of times you get put down, it’s about the amount of times you get back up from it. That’s something I’ve definitely lived and died by – on the field, off the field and everything in between.
“People can never say that I’ve never given it my all to play for the Three Lions, and I absolutely love it.”
Bairstow needs another 26 runs to reach 6,000 in Tests. Of his 12 hundreds, six came in 2022, when his prolific form launched England’s ‘Bazball’ era under captain Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum.
He has kept wicket in 55 of his 99 Tests, but is currently without the gloves as Ben Foakes is behind the stumps in India. Only three men – Alan Knott, Matt Prior and Alec Stewart – have made more runs in Tests as England’s wicketkeeper.
“It means a hell of a lot,” said Bairstow. “Every young kid that sets out on a journey playing professional cricket wants to try to play 100 Test matches.
“You look back to 2012 when I made my debut at Lord’s, if 12 years later you’d said I’d be playing 100 Test matches, you’d snap your hand off for one but also pinch yourself as well.
“It will be an emotional week. I’m proud, you know what I’m like, an emotional guy so yeah, get the tissues ready.”
Bairstow’s father David played four Tests and 21 one-day internationals for England in the 1970s and 80s, as well as having a 20-year career for Yorkshire. David took his own life in 1998.
Jonny’s family, including his young son, have made the trip to the foothills of the Himalayas for his 100th Test and he paid particular tribute to his mother Janet.
“The strength and courage she’s shown to bring us up, support us through the journey is huge,” said Bairstow. “Without her we wouldn’t be here today.”
England are 3-1 down and cannot win the series. In the cool conditions of Dharamsala, the tourists may opt to field three frontline seamers in their XI for the first time in the series.
Bairstow’s highest score in eight innings is 38. He is approaching two years without a Test hundred, but was left stranded on 99 not out in the fourth Ashes Test last July.
“I’ve been pleased with how I’ve played throughout the series,” he said. “I’ve had a couple of good balls, a couple of umpire’s calls and I’ve made a couple of bad decisions, that happens when you play against India in India.
“You just have to be content in that. I’ve been striking the ball well. I’m full of confidence coming into this week.”
By Stephan Shemilt
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