'Have always been capable of playing this way' - 'Relaxed' Jonny Bairstow relishing batting without constraints

Fresh from a match-winning innings in the second Test at Trent Bridge, Jonny Bairstow was once again punishing the Kiwi bowlers with his nonchalant batting on the second day of the third and final Test at Headingley. Bairstow’s innings has got England in a strong position at the end of Day 2.

England were in a spot of bother at 21/4 after Joe Root’s dismissal and their troubles were deepened when skipper Ben Stokes was dismissed in his attempt to counterattack, followed by Ben Foakes, who wasn’t able to open his account. Even with the fall of all those wickets, Bairstow did not stop playing his shots and punished the bowlers whenever they erred even marginally.

The right-hand batter notched up his 10th century in Tests and remained unbeaten on 130 at the end of day’s play. The English batter spoke to the press after his innings and said that he is trying to bat with a clear mindset and not paying attention to the doubters. He is backing his natural attacking game and is relaxed at the crease.

“This is the way that I’ve always been capable of playing. I guess it’s your personality coming out. It’s just a more relaxed me at the crease, I’m not necessarily as tense. I’ve gone back to young Jonny, where I’m watching the ball and seeing the ball. There is sometimes a lot of rubbish spoken about a lot of different things, sometimes it gets into your mind and clutters it. The most important thing is me being me,” Bairstow said in the presser after the day’s play.

Sometimes it’s a simple game that we complicate: Jonny Bairstow

The explosive batter has always preferred to hit his way out of trouble but hasn’t been successful until recently. The wicketkeeper-batter mentioned the simplicity with which Stokes and Brendon McCullum are approaching things behind the scenes. Instead of putting pressure on the players, they have allowed them the freedom to express themselves on the pitch.

“Sometimes it’s a simple game that we complicate. We’re trying to strip that complicated nature of it back, and allow people to go out and express themselves. You can either go into your shell and bat the way people have done for years and years – try to survive against bowlers like Boult and Tim Southee when they’re bowling so well,” he added.