Jonny Bairstow’s journey to 100 Tests – through father’s suicide, mother’s cancer, and uncertain role in team to a century of games

On Thursday, Jonny Bairstow will become the 17th player to reach 100 Tests for England. Though his record isn’t as stellar as some of the other stalwarts to reach the landmark, the 34-year-old’s story of overcoming several hurdles through his life is a remarkable one. It details not only his hard work and determination, but also his mother Janet’s strong willpower and coach Brendon McCullum backing that gave Bairstow’s Test career a second wind.

It’s well documented that Jonny’s father David, a Test cricketer himself, took his life because of depression in 1998. However, it didn’t prevent Jonny from emulating his father and surpassing his achievements in the game.

“For a young boy, growing up without his father who was a famous cricketer is always difficult if he follows his father, because everyone compares them,” Duncan Hamilton, the co-author of Bairstow’s autobiography ‘A Clear Blue Sky: a Remarkable Memoir about Family, Loss and the Will to Overcome’ tells The Indian Express.

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Bairstow Jr would also have to deal with depression and obstacles en route to making his name in the game.

Role of mother after David’s death

Bairstow’s mother Janet has been a strong influence on him. Despite suffering from cancer, she would never let his son miss practice. “When his mother was receiving cancer treatment after his father died, she did so much driving to practice for football, rugby and cricket that her car probably did as many miles as it would take a rocket to get to the moon and back. She was always there for him. She has devoted her life to her children,” Hamilton would say.

In a recent interview with The Telegraph, Bairstow revealed that his mother had cancer twice and called her a “bloody strong woman”.

Bairstow’s family will be at the ground when he walks out for his 100th Test. “They mean the world to me, no need to say anymore,” the player captioned the photo he would post on social media.

Versatile team man

Despite having such a long career, Bairstow has never had a settled role in England’s Test side. His batting position has changed over the years and whether he would keep wicket has also never been certain.

But Bairstow would keep working on his glovework despite the uncertainty. “During winter months when there was snow on the outfield at Headingley, he would go out and practise wicketkeeping, with just a few people from the office and the groundsman watching,” Hamilton would say. “He will apply himself mentally, physically and psychologically so that he comes through any obstacle put in his way.”

Bairstow would take to Bazball’s approach like a fish to water. He was the posterboy for the philosophy in its early days and would give the initial ignition to the method in the summer of 2022, helping England chase big totals in the final innings of Tests. These are the traits that show he is a versatile player and willing to do anything for the team.

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— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 19, 2023

99 Test @ 36.4

However, for all the goodwill Bairstow has earned, his Test career has not reached great heights thus far. It has been a case of either feast or famine.

“He’s not Joe Root. He is not Mr. Consistent to score 1,000 runs yearly. But he is capable of playing an innings that changes a game against the very best,”” Nick Hoult, co-author of ‘Bazball: The inside story of a Test cricket revolution’, would tell this paper.

Bairstow has had memorable knocks in England, South Africa, and to an extent even in Australia, but India has remained a frontier unconquered for him. In 12 matches in the country, Bairstow has only managed 559 runs at an average of 26.62 with three-half centuries to his name.

“He plays much of his cricket in Headingley so playing spin is tougher for him, especially at the start of the innings. He is not a natural sweeper of the ball like other England players. Jonny is much better at hitting the ball straight,” Hoult would explain.

Though having Dan Lawrence in the squad as a spare batsman, McCullum would not entertain any thought of dropping Bairstow, despite his poor record in India.

“I’m not blind,” he would say after the third Test in Rajkot. “We know that a top-quality Jonny Bairstow is as good as anyone in any conditions, so we’ve got to keep on giving him confidence.”

Hoult also believes that “Brendon probably sees a bit of himself in Bairstow.” McCullum himself, until the later stages of his Test career, would never have a settled spot in the New Zealand Test side and would be constantly pushed up and down the batting order, playing sometimes as a wicketkeeper-batsman and sometimes as a specialist batsman.

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