Published: Jul 23, 2015, 04:11 AM (IST)
Edited: Jul 23, 2015, 04:16 AM (IST)
London: Jonny Bairstow marked his England recall with an unbeaten fifty as reigning champions Yorkshire beat Worcestershire by seven wickets on the final day of their County Championship clash at Scarborough on Wednesday.
It was the first time since 1998 that Yorkshire had won five consecutive matches in a Championship season and it strengthened the title-holders’ grip on top spot at the head of the First Division. Chris Rogers thought Lord’s grandstand was moving, says David Warner
Tuesday saw Bairstow recalled by England for the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston starting on July 29, after county team-mate Gary Ballance was dropped following Australia‘s crushing 405-run win in the second Test at Lord’s to level the five-match series at 1-1.
Bairstow, who made 139 in the first innings against Worcestershire, helped rescue the White Rose county from 44 for three with an unbeaten 74 as Yorkshire chased down a target of 157 without losing any more wickets. Ian Bell to lose place if he fails in third Test, says Geoffrey Boycott
His second-innings effort saw Bairstow face 51 balls, including nine fours and three sixes.
Bairstow, the son of late former England wicket-keeper David Bairstow, shared an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 113 in 17 overs with opener Alex Lees, who himself made 58 not out. Michael Clarke believes unknown pitch conditions facet of Test cricket
This latest effort took Bairstow onto 908 runs for the season at an average of 108.88 in 12 Championship innings, with one double hundred, four hundreds and four fifties.
“It was another great knock today from Jonny Bairstow and we all wish him well and hope he scores lots of runs for England,” said Yorkshire coach Jason Gillespie. Jonny Bairstow believes he is in the best form of his career
“He is playing good cricket, the ball is in his court and I am delighted he has got his opportunity,” the former Australia fast bowler added.
Bairstow now has a chance to improve on a modest Test average of 26.95 in 14 matches, the last against Australia in Sydney in 2014 when an England defeat meant they suffered a 5-0 Ashes whitewash. England drop Gary Ballance for Jonny Bairstow
