Jonny Bairstow insists England are ready to “grit it out” in Sri Lanka if the hosts try to make conditions tricky for batting during the forthcoming five-match one-day series.
With Sri Lanka eager to turnaround their ill-fortune after a poor Asia Cup display and having gone winless in their last nine home series, rumours abound that the hosts will produce challenging wickets to unsettle England’s lengthy batting line-up.
Bairstow knows England’s batsmen much deal tactfully with unfamiliar conditions if they are to triumph this month.
Bairstow, who is averaging 51.05 in 19 ODI innings in 2018 and has notched four centuries, has made himself indispensable to the world’s No.1 ranked 50-over side, forming a swashbuckling opening partnership with Jason Roy.
“It’s great that it’s gone so well but you want to keep it going in the right direction. I’m happy with my game, but you want to keep improving, moving forward, pushing yourself. This is a great opportunity to do that.”
The first ODI between Sri Lanka and England takes place on Wednesday, October 10 in Dambulla.
