NEW DELHI: Approaching his 100th Test match, England's wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow expressed on Tuesday the immense significance of reaching this milestone, particularly considering the challenging journey he has traversed.
The 34-year-old Bairstow is poised to join an elite group of English cricketers as the 17th player to achieve a century of Test caps when he takes the field for the fifth and final Test against India, commencing on Thursday.
For Bairstow, this upcoming week carries profound emotional weight, as he reflects on a difficult upbringing and a career marked by adversity, including a significant injury that threatened his future in the sport.
"It means hell of a lot. It will be an emotional week for me," Bairstow said of the marquee game.
Bairstow was just 8 when his father David, a former England wicketkeeper, died by suicide. His mother Janet kept the family together even as she battled and defeated breast cancer twice.
Speaking about the pitch for the match, he lauded the groundsmen for doing a brilliant job not long after the venue's outfield was criticised during the ODI World Cup.
1/10:WTC standings: India climb to top spot
ANI
2/10:Team India
<p>Two-time finalists India jumped to the top of the World Test Championship standings, replacing New Zealand in the latest rankings issued on Sunday. </p>ANI
3/10:Ranchi Test
<p>India defeated England by five wickets in the fourth Test in Ranchi to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series. </p>ANI
4/10:Better points percentage
<p>India replaced the Kiwis with a stronger points percentage of 64.58. </p>AP
5/10:62 points
<p>With five wins, two losses and one draw, India have 62 points in 8 matches. </p>AFP
6/10:New Zealand
<p>The Black Caps have 36 from five matches (three wins, two losses) and have a point-percentage of 60.00. </p>AFP
7/10:Wellington Test
<p>Before the start of the Wellington Test, New Zealand were sitting at the top of the table with 36 points in four games and a points percentage of 75. </p>AP
8/10:No. 2 spot
<p>But following their massive 172-run defeat, the 2021 WTC champions lost the top spot, slipping to the No. 2 position with a points percentage of 60. </p>AFP
9/10:Australia
<p>Third-placed Australia have closed on the gap after the Wellington Test, gaining 12 points as they now have 78 points from 11 matches (7 wins, 3 losses and 1 draw). </p>AFP
10/10:Points percentage
<p>Australia's points percentage has also increased from 55 to 59.09. </p>AFP"The ground staff has done a brilliant job with the outfield considering the state it was in during the ODI World Cup.
"It looks like a good pitch and if you are alluding to the fast bowlers getting help from the surface, it will be favourable to both teams," Bairstow said.
Bairstow has also played his 100th ODI in Dharamsala and asked about the venue, he said, "Cape Town is my favourite but don't think there is a more picturesque ground in the world than Dharamsala."
India have already sealed an unbeatable 3-1 lead in the series.
(With inputs from PTI)
