The beginnings – in and out of the side

Bairstow came into Test cricket during a significant summer for a side who, 12 months before, had become the top-ranked team in the world. After Eoin Morgan was dropped prior to the 2011/12 winter and Ravi Bopara picked up a side strain that ruled him out of contention, Bairstow was called upon.

It was a rough initiation. Dropped after three Tests worth of low scores against the West Indies and struggles against Kemar Roach, he was given an opportunity after Kevin Pietersen was dropped for the final South Africa Test. The 95 runs he scored at Lord’s with Morne Morkel bouncers whistling around his ears were the first indication of the key theme that’s spanned Bairstow’s career. When backed into a corner, he rarely fails to respond.

Another half-century in the following innings won him a place on the landmark 2012 tour of India. Despite only playing one Test in that series – standing in for Ian Bell on paternity leave – he’s one of three among England’s lot on the current tour who have Test series winner’s medals in India. His next Test came in similar circumstances, filling in for Pietersen once again on the final match of England’s tour to New Zealand.

Despite his twin single-digit scores in that game, he was given both Tests when New Zealand toured England the following summer. A half-century in Leeds did enough for him to retain his spot for the 2013 summer Ashes, along with Joe Root’s move out of the middle order. But by the time the series ended, and with one 50 plus score to show, time in his first stint was running out. Still included in the following winter’s trip down under, he was no longer part of the first-choice XI, and only found himself in the side once the trajectory of the series was clear. While there was no significant improvement in his scores, the Melbourne Test marked a significant point, taking the big gloves for the first time in a Test. However, scores of 10, 21, 18 and 0 in that series were enough for his first significant spell out of the squad.