Jonny Bairstow's century statement leaves no room for misinterpretation

Bairstow’s complaints that some members of the media had been waiting for the host nation to fail dominated the news agenda this week but he was delighted to turn those stories into "fish and chip paper" at Edgbaston

Scorecard | Ratings | Talking Points | Sam Morshead

Jonny Bairstow might have felt his words had been misinterpreted in midweek but his Sunday century at Edgbaston screamed one clear message: England are not done yet in this World Cup.

Bairstow’s complaints that some members of the media had been waiting for the host nation to fail dominated the news agenda after England’s second defeat in a row, against Australia at Lord’s on Tuesday, but he was delighted to turn those stories into “fish and chip paper” with a blistering 111 from 109 balls as India were beaten by 31 runs.

Sharing in an opening stand of 160 with Jason Roy, Bairstow laid the foundations for what turned out to be a relatively comfortable victory for the home side - despite Rohit Sharma’s ton - and ensured that he has a World Cup hundred to his name.

“I was pleased to get over the line in the World Cup,” he said afterwards. 

“You can score centuries but there are only so many times you can get the opportunity to score a century in a World Cup. Obviously I got ninety a couple of weeks ago (against Afghanistan) and was disappointed with that.

“It was really pleasing to go out and relax and play, and contribute to what was a brilliant win today.”

^{Jason Roy was back, and Jonny Bairstow benefited}

Bairstow had told a group of journalists at a National Cricket Week event earlier in the week that some critics “are not willing us on to win”.

“People now are paid to have an opinion, so they’ve got to have an opinion,” he said.

“Because we’ve done so well, any opportunity for someone to see we’ve lost two games, they were always going to jump on it. People were waiting for us to fail. They are not willing us on to win, in many ways they are waiting for you to get that loss, so they can jump on your throat. It’s a typical English thing to do, in every sport.”

But in his post-match interview he explained how he felt his comments had been misrepresented.

“At no point have I ever said that the public is not behind us, and the interview was taking place with six, eight, 10 journalists around, and it was taking place in a very relaxed and jovial manner,” he said.

“Then to read the things and how it was taken was very disappointing but that’s part and parcel of it. There’s nothing you can change about the things that were the past. Yesterday’s news is today’s fish and chips paper - that’s the saying, isn’t it.”

The return of Jason Roy freed up Bairstow, allowing him to settle into his stride and take more time finding a rhythm at the top of the order.

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Bairstow was delighted to be reunited with his usual opening partner, and why not. The two have now passed fifty as a pair in 16 of the 30 innings they have played and average more than 65 together for the first wicket.

“He’s obviously been frustrated with the setback he’s had with his hamstring,” Bairstow said. “Hopefully he’s going to be okay with the knock he took on his arm (Roy was bruised by a rising delivery from Jasprit Bumrah and did not field).

“You saw the way in which he went out and played and how relaxed he was. You could see from the first boundary he hits through the covers, he’s in good touch.”

England still have qualification for the last four under their own control - beat New Zealand at Durham on Wednesday and they are through.

“It was obvious over the last couple of weeks that we hadn’t played our best cricket,” Bairstow said. 

“We knew this game was going to be a very, very tough game - it was a game that keeps us within the World Cup and keeps it in our own hands, rather than us wanting other people to win games around the country.

“The way the guys went about it, all the way through - the application everyone showed with the bat and then the way we started with the ball, with (Chris Woakes) bowling three overs up top against such dangerous opening batters - was truly outstanding.”

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