Jonny Bairstow is ‘absolutely not done’ with Test cricket, and is itching to bounce back stronger after being excluded from the red-ball squad for the upcoming New Zealand tour.

“I love my Test cricket,” Bairstow was quoted as saying by BBC Sport. “Naturally, it’s disappointing, It’s not the first time being dropped has happened. Hopefully it will be the last.”

For Bairstow, the ecstasy of becoming a World Cup winner was followed by a scratchy run with the bat during the Ashes: a solitary fifty-plus score in 10 Test innings was in direct contrast to his scorching white-ball form during the 50-over title triumph. He had slammed back-to-back tons against India and New Zealand in England’s last two group games of the World Cup, but switched to Test cricket with a pair against Ireland.

Cheeky from Jonny Bairstow ?pic.twitter.com/icYpYzJ2Yt

— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) September 13, 2019

The wicketkeeper-batsman averaged 23.78 during the Ashes, stringing together a bunch of starts interspersed with three single-digits scores. It led to his exclusion from the two-match away Test series against New Zealand, but Bairstow has no reluctance to return to the drawing board to work on his comeback plan.

“We’ve been touring non-stop for five, six or seven years. This gives me the opportunity to go away, train hard and work on my game,” he said.

Bairstow has kept wickets in 48 of the 69 Tests he has played thus far, averaging two and a half units higher with the bat when donning dual responsibility. In his absence, Jos Buttler will take over the ‘keeping duties for the New Zealand tour. Last year, Bairstow made clear his keenness to keep the big gloves, but now, he believes he can come in as just a specialist batter as well.

“I just want to get back in the team, no matter how it is. Whatever spot becomes available,” he said. “It won’t be the first time if it is just as a batter.”