Jonny Bairstow is “desperately proud” after claiming an emotional century on his Test comeback on day one of the third Test against Sri Lanka, as England reached 312-7 at stumps.
Late wickets ensured it was a good day rather than a great one for the tourists in Colombo, but they may have solved their problematic No.3 position, with the Yorkshireman becoming the first England batsman to reach triple figures from first drop in two years.
The stylish batsman now looks set to be deployed at first drop in the Windies early next year as England try to settle on a top order ahead of the Ashes next summer, but facing the new ball in England will present a very different – and perhaps much sterner – challenge to the spin threat posed to him today.
Bairstow is far from convinced that he should give up the glovework and focus solely on his batting, however – he insists that he will keep fighting to be England’s first-choice ‘keeper. “I have worked hard for the last nine years,” he added. “I am not going to give up after two games you miss.”
