04 July 2023 , 17:00
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Australia have been warned they will not like Jonny Bairstow now that they have made him angry.
England’s batting hulk, and the catalyst for Bazball, has been poked by the Aussies with the way they dismissed him at Lord’s and there are few players who react quite as consistently brilliantly to adversity as Bairstow.
Whether it is returning after being dropped, reacting to a comment from the opposition, or simply raging against a perceived injustice in the world, no-one does righteous fury like Bairstow, who it is hoped can help make up for the absence of Ollie Pope who has been ruled out of the series with his shoulder injury.
“Jonny does thrive off things like this,” said team-mate Joe Root. “He has done so previously. “He’s playing at his home ground this week and I’m sure he will want to entertain the local crowd.
“I think it is set up nicely for him but you have still got to go and do it. You can bet your bottom dollar he will have the bit between his teeth.
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“Because I don’t think he took it great. I don’t think anyone would, would they? From his perspective he was not gaining any advantage.
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“It wasn’t like he was at the non-striker’s end trying to sneak a run or batting out of your crease trying to take modes of dismissal out of the game. So yeah he felt a bit hard done by.”
Within the England dressing room they talk about Jonny’s eyes, and when the fire is burning and he is channelling his emotions into his cricket, he has a look that opponents should watch out for.
He had the same look last summer against India during his blistering run of form when he scored twin tons in the one off Test against them, thanks to comments from Virat Kohli that set him off.
“You want to be watching every ball this week,” said Root overlooking the Headingley pitch. “There is always something in these big series and this is it I guess.
“And it would have to involve Jonny. What a week he’s had. Going back to Edgbaston last year, someone said something to him - I think it was Virat - and that brought the best out of him. Let’s hope it happens again.”