English wicket-keeper batsman Jonny Bairstow says it is “tricky” to miss games but admits that there is no window to take rest. He will “raring to go” when he gets named in the squad.
England selectors have rested Bairstow, Sam Curran and Mark Wood for the first two Tests against India. The first Test is starting on February 5 in Chennai.
Former England skippers Michael Vaughan, Nasser Hussain and Kevin Petersen criticised the England selectors for not picking up Bairstow.
“If they hadn’t given me the break now, then when? It’s the way of the world at the moment. There’s no one who plays all three formats who is doing the whole tour,” Bairstow told ‘Evening Standard’.
“It’s tricky. It’s a huge summer and winter and sadly you can’t do everything. You do need to get out of the bubble and see your loved ones,” he said.
“After a rest, I’ll be raring to go in India.”
“I’ve absolutely loved being back. I was a bit emotional yesterday being back in the dressing room when you’ve won a series reaffirms why you keep doing it and never give up. It’s special,” the 31-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman told.
“I’d have liked to get a big score, but I’m really happy with how I’ve played, having not played a huge amount of red-ball cricket for a little while, to come back in and spend the amount of time at the crease and contribute the way I have is really pleasing.”
Bairstow had got the Test recall for the Sri Lanka series and in two Tests he has scored 139 runs at an average of 46.
“It was frustrating because I wanted to prove that I could play red-ball cricket, which I hold so dearly. My aspirations are to play Test cricket for as long as possible,” said Bairstow.
“I tried to play in between bubbles but it’s hard to properly get your teeth stuck into it, because going and playing a game for Yorkshire is not the same as a Test series, with a lead-in to get your game and mindset in order.”
Before the Sri Lanka series Bairstow was last seen in 2019 against South Africa. In 72 Tests, he has scored 4169 runs at 35.03.
“People won’t have seen the technical side of things that’s gone on during this series, it’s been a lot more spin dominant. But in the few bits of pace they bowled, there is a considerable difference to my setup. That’s something I’ll be going forward with.”
