Jonny Bairstow: England are not prioritising white-ball formats over Test cricket

Criticism has been levelled at several England internationals for skipping Test matches while committing to the IPL but Bairstow believes England's results show no bias towards either format

England are not prioritising white-ball cricket over red-ball cricket, believes wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow.

Criticism has been levelled at several England internationals – including Bairstow, Sam Curran, Jos Buttler and Jofra Archer – for missing Test matches in order to rest while also committing to both international white-ball fixtures and this season’s Indian Premier League.

However, Bairstow – who is back in contention for the third Test against India after ten days at home – believes the side’s results over the last two years do not indicate any white-ball bias from England’s players or management.

The 31-year old discussed the benefits that playing in the IPL has on your all-round game while also admitting that it is hard for multi-format players to balance the wealth of playing opportunities.

"I don’t believe there are any priorities," Bairstow said. "If you look at our away record we’ve won six of out last seven Tests away from home. Look at our performances in ODI cricket and in T20 cricket over the last 12, 24 months. Those results don’t come by prioritising one format over the other. All three formats are producing results.

Jonny Bairstow & Mark Wood are back training with the England squad in Chennai 💪

📸 @englandcricket pic.twitter.com/n085t247Ba

— The Cricketer (@TheCricketerMag) February 17, 2021

"[Missing matches] is part and parcel of the game. You’ve got guys on red-ball contracts, on white-ball contracts and some guys that have both. I think the guys that are white-ball contracted , being able to go and play in the IPL is something you can’t say no to because that’s kind of their contract.

"If guys are going to the IPL they’re improving their skills. It doesn’t mean just improving their skills in T20 cricket, [it’s] improving their skills for ODI and Test cricket as well.

"Also they’re playing alongside the best cricketers in the world, not to mention playing in conditions similar to what we’re playing in currently in the Tests and in the T20 World Cup coming up at the end of the year. [Playing in the IPL] covers all three formats."

He continued: "It’s difficult [to balance the workload]. You have a limited career span and you want to make the most of the time you have. I lost my red-ball contract last year so the opportunity to play in the Big Bash arose and you’re going to try and take it.

"I didn’t know I would be recalled for Sri Lanka but I want to play Test cricket so that’s why those plans got put on hold. There’s a reason I went to Sri Lanka, there’s a reason why I’m here in India and that’s to play Test cricket for England and earn my contract back.

"But when you’re talking about that kind of money like Chris Morris who’s not played for South Africa for a few years but has just gone for £1.6million. it’s very hard to turn down."

Quizzed on his thoughts on the IPL draft, Bairstow voiced his delight at Moeen Ali’s selection for Chennai Super Kings, stating: "There’s been a couple of our guys who have gone which is fantastic. The qualities that Mo has, he’s worth every penny and it’s fantastic to see him go for that amount."

Moeen Ali secures IPL contract with Chennai Super Kings

Speaking of Moeen, in light of the media circus surrounding his departure from the England squad, Bairstow praised the mental and physical benefits of being rested, citing bubble fatigue and 2021’s busy international schedule.

"You’re asking people to be away from home from January 2 to March 29. To be away from home for that amount of time off the back of being in bubbles all of last summer and before Christmas, at some point people are going to need rest," Bairstow said.

"From August or September to Christmas, I had six nights at home and then the Christmas break. Then the tour to Sri Lanka went out on January 2 and we’re potentially not back until the end of May and then into an English summer – which could be in bubbles. There’s 17 Test matches, a T20 World Cup and at the end of all that five Tests against Australia in the Ashes.

"You don’t want to leave because you’re playing but if you’re physically, mentally or emotionally exhausted you may get injured or lose form."

He continued, "It’s tough not being able to leave the hotel, going down to a dining room and sitting at different tables and not necessarily being able to have the food you’d cook for yourself, so getting home and having that mental and physical refresh is important."

Bairstow re-joins the England squad for the third Test with concerns mounting about the performances of Rory Burns, Dom Sibley and Dan Lawrence at the top of the order. The trio have recorded just one half-century in their last four innings and have been dismissed by Indian spinner Ravi Ashwin on seven occasions.

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However, despite being pleased with his own performances during the warm-up tour against Sri Lanka, Bairstow is not considering himself an automatic pick for the Test in Ahmedabad.

"I was happy with how I played in Sri Lanka," he said. "The pitches weren’t exactly the easiest of pitches so to come back into the side and bat at three  - where I haven’t batted a huge amount – and be able to contribute to the partnerships I did. There were a couple of hundred partnerships I was involved in and they’re crucial to making the big scores.

"I didn’t get a big score but to be there at the end of the first Test was really important for me. As for the upcoming games, all I can do the next few days is keep my head down and keep working hard in the nets. It’s up to Joe [Root] and Chris [Silverwood] and the rest of the coaching team."