A seemingly minor technical change could be behind Jonny Bairstow’s sudden change in fortunes in Test cricket.

Up until the end of 2021, Bairstow was clinging on to his Test career. Frequently in and out of the side, he had a high score of just 57 to his name dating back to the start of 2019, and the number of times he fell to straight balls was noted: From the start of 2018 to the end of 2021, he was dismissed bowled on 15 occasions, the most of any batter in Test cricket, despite being well down the list in terms of innings batted.

Since the start of 2022, Bairstow has been a batter transformed, with two centuries in two Tests and another century in England’s warm-up game for this series as well. While there is plenty that goes into a batter’s form – including fortune, and Bairstow was lucky to survive a swirling top-edge early in his innings yesterday – one notable change has come in where Bairstow stands as the ball is delivered.

In the past he was regularly standing on middle stump as the ball was bowled, with his stumps still visible as he attempted a stroke, allowing an easier route to bowling him. Compared to his position in the hundred against Australia in particular, there’s a world of difference. Below are two stills, one of Bairstow as Pakistan’s Faheem Ashraf delivers a ball (which bowls Bairstow) in 2018. The other is Bairstow facing up to Scott Boland at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The difference is marked.

Against West Indies, the difference isn’t quite as pronounced, but as Jayden Seales bowls, Bairstow’s back toe is over near off stump, with his head over it.

Much has been made of the effect of Bairstow’s white-ball success on his Test fortunes, and it’s notable that, when seeking quick runs, Bairstow reverts to a more leg-side position, as can be seen below, when batting with tail-ender Mark Wood at the SCG: both off and middle stump are exposed. Compare it to Bairstow taking guard in a 2019 T20I against West Indies.

The hints of this change could be seen against India last summer, as can be seen below.

But it took a while to reap rewards. While Bairstow was more consistent in getting off to starts in 2021, he passed 25 11 times but only made 50 once, and he was bowled or lbw seven times in 11 innings against India, both home and away. Now, he seems back to his best.

It’s important to note that where a batter takes guard can vary through an innings, and from game to game and bowler to bowler, so looking at stills in isolation can only tell so much. But during Bairstow’s best stretch as a Test batter, when he racked up 1,470 runs in 2016, it’s possible to see him batting more over towards off stump, as is the case below.

The debate over the merits of an off-stump guard is one which continues to rage, but the thinking behind proponents of the theory is that it allows a batter to locate their off stump, while also ensuring that, when beaten on the outside edge, the ball will miss the stumps, and if beaten on the inside edge, the ball will hit the pad or miss the stumps. Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Queensland coach Adam Hollioake rated the technique as one which perhaps only the very best could pull off, with the method relying on being able to reliably hit the balls on your pads for runs.

“The technique’s an excellent one if you do it well,” he said. “But it’s a horrible one if you do it wrong.”

Bairstow has long been rated as one of the most talented batters in world cricket – something which has made his struggles all the more frustrating – with his white-ball prowess showing there are few who possess a better ‘eye’ in the game. Data from CricViz shows he is accessing the leg-side more.

Bairstow is now showing less of his stumps in his stance & setting up further towards the off side. This has improved his judgement (probably thanks to his improved head position). These changes are seeing him score more heavily though the leg side (41% to 54%). #WIvENG

— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) March 8, 2022

But perhaps their most conclusive stat was that this innings offered the clearest evidence yet that Bairstow’s straight-ball weakness has been mitigated.

37 of the pace deliveries Jonny Bairstow faced during his century here would have gone on to hit the stumps.

It's the most he's ever faced in a Test innings. #WIvENG

— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) March 9, 2022