Jonny Bairstow is praised by Nasser Hussain before the 100th Test. Former England captain Nasser Hussain thinks Jonny Bairstow, a wicketkeeper-batter, has done a commendable job filling a variety of roles over his 99 Test career.
The 34-year-old will play in his historic 100th Test on Saturday at Dharamsala, the fifth and final Test of the current series against India. Opinions on whether or not the seasoned cricket player should don the gloves are varied because Bairstow has spent more than half of his Test matches as England’s keeper.
Jonny Bairstow is praised by Nasser Hussain before the 100th Test
Hussain stated in his Daily Mail column before his 100th Test, “He polarizes opinion at times, but he has done pretty much all England has asked of him, whether it is as a wicketkeeper-batter or as a batter. Given his relationship with Keeping and his late father David, he has never been willing to part with the gloves.”
He continued: “But due to the way he performed with the bat during an international career full of incredible innings – think of the six hundred in eight matches in 2022 or the rookie hundred in Cape Town with Ben Stokes in 2016 – the debate over his best role in the side has lingered.”
Throughout his Test career, Bairstow has amassed nearly 6,000 runs at an average of 36.42, including 12 hundreds. Although the Yorkshire-born batsman is now a specialist hitter, he has superior Test figures as England’s gloveman.
In 55 Test matches, Bairstow has amassed almost 3,300 runs at an average of 37.63 while serving as a wicket-keeper.
Despite facing several highs and lows throughout his career, Jonny Bairstow managed to achieve 100 Tests, a feat that Nasser Hussain praised.
After James Anderson, Joe Root, and Ben Stokes, Bairstow will become the fourth player from the current squad and the 17th English cricketer to reach the milestone.
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