Centurion Jonny Bairstow could barely put a smile on his face after spending five hours at the crease for England on Tuesday, the first day of the first Test against the West Indies.
Bairstow’s second century in the second Test from where he left off two months ago in Australia, an unbeaten 109 in Antigua, helped turn the match slightly in favor of the visitors at stumps.
He said, ‘I am very passionate about playing Test cricket. I am absolutely happy. It’s been a good start to the year and hopefully it will continue.”
All-rounder Jason Holder said that in scoring his maiden century against the West Indies, Bairstow was usually punishing anything that deviated from a fine line and length, although West Indies did not help him by hitting too many boundaries.
Holder was certainly not to blame for any negligence, ending the day with figures of 2-15 averaging less than one run per over, but the same cannot be said of his less consistent teammates. In which Bairstow’s 68 runs came. Limitations.
“If I’m being overly critical, the only thing I point out is the boundaries. The boundary count was too high,” Holder said after England posted 268 for six at stumps.
“Johnny played really well but I think we could have been a bit stricter in not allowing him to score, especially from both sides.
“He (hit) hit the ball well on the legside, kicked the ball well, cut the ball well too.”
Fellow pacer Kemar Roach (2-71) admitted that the hosts failed to build home their opening advantage.
He said, ‘The pitch played much better than our expectation. We started well and I guess got lost a bit after lunch and after tea,” he still expressed optimism for the second day and beyond.
“I think it’s a very good pitch to bat on. Once the players are in, I think we’ll do a great job of taking the lead.”
Bairstow knows there is more work to do the next day.
“It will be a big morning session,” he said.
“We want to move on to 320-350. Anything out there we have is a bonus from the start. If you look too far ahead you can fall short very quickly.
“When we come to bowl it’s about being patient, about applying ourselves because it’s going to be a little tough.”
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