Yorkshire’s Jonny Bairstow may be considered surplus to requirements for England’s limited-overs series against Australia but, following another fine innings in what is becoming a landmark season for the 25-year-old, it is hard to believe the selectors can ignore his claims for much longer.
After half-centuries from his fellow England hopefuls Adam Lyth and Gary Ballance, Bairstow further increased Yorkshire’s stranglehold on a game which, if won, will virtually guarantee them the County Championship. The fact that he has now passed 1,000 runs in the Championship from 13 innings and has an average of 107.1 only increases the impression that this is a purple patch for a player still not guaranteed an England slot in any format.
“You can’t be surprised,” said Bairstow afterwards on his non-selection. “Obviously I’m disappointed because I’m a guy who wants to play for England as much as he can.”
Somerset had battled hard with the new ball, as the runs dried up during an excellent spell from Craig Overton either side of lunch. The fast bowler toiled admirably for his four wickets and spent the majority of his spell appealing to the umpire for a succession of lbws which went unanswered until Aaron Finch was trapped in front for 13 to make the score 258 for six.
Earlier Overton had picked up his third wicket when dawn finally broke on Steve Patterson’s long shift as nightwatchman as he edged behind for 44 from the third ball after lunch. Patterson and Ballance added 90 for the fourth wicket before the England man edged Overton to Marcus Trescothick for a well-constructed 91.
But despite Ballance reasserting his own England claims, it was Bairstow who grabbed the game by the scruff of its neck once the new ball lost its shine. One over from the left-arm spinner Jack Leach was dispatched for 14 runs off successive balls and the Yorkshireman’s ability to change gears as his innings progressed was what made his knock stand out.
The end, when it came, was somewhat surprising. Following the wickets of Tim Bresnan, James Middlebrook and Jack Brooks, Bairstow was left with a decent No11 in Ryan Sidebottom but was bowled for 91 by Lewis Gregory who finished with 3-75. Perhaps, the selfless Bairstow had one eye on the clock and as it was, the opportunity to have an hour bowling at the demoralised Somerset battling line up was gratefully taken.
Brooks then removed Tom Abell for four, caught one-handed at third slip by Finch, before Sidebottom ended a miserable game for Trescothick, who was lbw for five. Tom Cooper (12) and James Hildreth (18) managed to see out the remainder of the day’s play as Somerset reached 44 for two at the close but, with the West Countrymen still 237 runs short, it will surely only delay a Yorkshire win.
