Jonny Bairstow reckons there would be no repeat of Ashes 2013

English batsman Jonny Bairstow remarked that the England team has a perfect balance heading on to the Ashes series. Speaking to Omnisport at an event to promote his book, ‘A Clear Blue Sky’, Bairstow was absolutely sure that there would be no repeat of the Australian tour in 2013 where the Poms were whitewashed 5 nil.

The wicketkeeper-batsman was a part of the drubbing down under four years back. He was also a member of the winning squad that England won at home back in Ashes 2015. He further spoke about skipper Joe Root and praised him. He also gave a few details regarding his book.

“The balance we’ve got between experience, youth and enthusiasm is a good thing.”

Speaking about the Ashes whitewash on their last tour, Bairstow distinguished between both the sides, outlining that the current team is divergent.

“It’s a completely different group of players, You’ve got a lot of experience now. You had guys who were playing their first, second, third Test matches, to guys now that have got 30 Tests underneath their belt, alongside people who’ve got 100 plus Test matches, and also guys who are yet to make their debut.

“So the balance we’ve got between experience, youth and enthusiasm is a good one moving forward.

He further emphasised a crucial point on how players with ample experience can pass on their knowledge to the younger talent in the side.

“You’ve got guys that won it who are still in the squad and still in the team. That can only be a positive thing. The experience that they can call upon, both good and bad, and the knowledge that they can pass on to the players… it’s exciting!”

“Joe Root has done fantastically well”

As Joe Root prepares for his first ever Ashes as the skipper of the English team, Bairstow sung praises for his Yorkshire teammate.

“He’s taken everything in his stride and scored many many runs like he’ll carry on doing.”

Bairstow further stated that inspite of donning the captaincy role, Root continued to be the same.

“Nothing has changed about him. He’s really excited about this challenge ahead over in Australia. He’s not changed at all as a person, so that’s a massive credit to him for not changing the way he is and I don’t think that will ever change.”

“But it’s also performances that you gain respect for as well.”

Exploring the impact of his father’s death in the book.

Bairstow who lost his father at an early age of 8, has portrayed the events he went through following the patch. He also recounted on his experience of writing the book.

“It definitely gives you an understanding, perspective and it enables you to think about different aspects of it and put things into perspective at what you could say is the mid-point of my career. I learned plenty about myself.”

He highlighted why the book was so significant for him.

“I think it’s important to be able to talk about things like that because there’s a lot of people that will find it difficult to speak about those types of things.

“But if it can help people speak about it, help bring things to the surface for other people, then that can only be a good thing.”

The Ashes is supposed to kick off from the 23rd of November.