Jonny Bairstow 'proud as punch' with Colombo century to silence his 'critics'

"It's all well and good when things are going well and people have an opinion on how well you're playing, but it's the hidden things that they don't see," the England batsman said after reaching three figures in Colombo

Jonny Bairstow's guttural roar upon reaching three figures at the SSC reflected his frustrations with criticism he feels has been directed his way over the course of the past month.

Bairstow returned to the England Test team in his new position at No.3 and immediately responded with an excellent century, celebrating the milestone with an almighty shout and fierce glance towards the press pack in Colombo.

The Yorkshireman, it appears, had been upset by comments made about the nature of the injury which ruled him out of the last ODI and first Test in Sri Lanka - a rolled ankle sustained playing football.

"It means a lot," Bairstow told Sky Sports. "There are different things you go through when you get castigated about being injured for doing x, y and z when people haven't actually seen what's gone on.

"The bits behind the scenes, when you're doing your rehab and sleeping on an ice machine, the things that people don't see and yet they have an opinion on it. It's all well and good when things are going well and people have an opinion on how well you're playing, but it's the hidden things that they don't see."

^{Jonny Bairstow made a fine century for England in Colombo}

A naturally combative and hugely resilient player, Bairstow has spent the past year confirming himself as a Test-standard wicketkeeper, as well as fighting his way into an opening batsman's berth in the England ODI squad. 

"You look at the challenges that have been put in front of me as a cricketer over a period of time and there's been quite a few. And I like to hope I've come through most challenges along the way," he said.

"I'm desperately proud of this last couple of weeks. It's been tough, real tough. People sometimes don't see the hard work behind the scenes, people sometimes have an opinion when they are sat at home and don't see the graft that's going on, in the heat and humidity.

SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER

"I'm proud as punch of the work I've done because that injury should potentially have set me back for six to eight weeks, but I'm back in four and playing in a Test match.

"Over a period of time you learn to tap into things that motivate you, and get you through some difficult times."

And recent personal tragedies have also placed the game in perspective for Bairstow.

"These last couple of weeks, there's a lot of people who've been in worst times than me," he said. "Two people back home passed away these last couple of weeks, which puts things in perspective. It just shows we are playing a game of cricket, and people seem to have an opinion on that. We are playing a game, we try our best."