IND vs ENG: Jonny Bairstow dedicates 100th Test cap to his two-time cancer survivor mother

England's versatile batter and wicketkeeper, Jonny Bairstow, is on the brink of achieving a noteworthy milestone in his illustrious cricketing journey. As he gears up to play at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium against India, Bairstow is set to celebrate his 100th Test match, an accomplishment shared by just 16 other English cricketers. With 5974 runs under his belt, including 12 centuries and 26 half-centuries, Bairstow boasts an average of 36.42. His imminent entry into the prestigious Centurion Club highlights his enduring contribution to English cricket.

Ahead of the fifth and final Test against India in Dharamshala starting Thursday, the 34-year-old attributes his impending milestone to his mother, a two-timecancer survivor. Through a challenging childhood and a career-threatening injury, her steadfast support has been Bairstow's bedrock, keeping the family united during tough times. The dedication to his mother stresses the profound influence of familial support in his cricketing journey.

"When I play, there are times I think about dad. But I think more about how hard mum worked to make sure we were OK after everything that happened. To keep us together as a family. That has been my driving force. My mum is the embodiment of strength. There was a determination there. She worked three jobs and had two kids that were under 10 at a difficult time. She was taking me to Leeds United (where he played youth football), to Headingley, all sorts of other places,” Bairstow said as quoted by Times of India.

"It's paying all that back, making sure they are OK, creating a life for my own family as well. She had cancer twice. She's a bloody strong woman, to get through that twice, before you even consider anything else she's been through, and it shows the strength and determination of the woman," he added.

Also Read: 'You couldn’t write a better script for Jonny Bairstow' - Joe Root backs England wicketkeeper-batter ahead of his 100th Test

Dharamshala weather conducive to the English style of cricket

As the India vs England fifth and final Test approaches, the dynamic changes with untimely rain, dropping temperatures, and a new landscape await players. Unlike the previous matches held in Western, Southern, and Eastern India, this fixture shifts to the northern region of Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh. The HPCA Stadium, nestled in Dharamsala, stands as India's highest-altitude international venue, promises unique challenges amid early March's characteristic weather in the region.