Jonny Bairstow proves himself a world-class England all-rounder on the attack

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Tom Collomosse30 July 2017

Joe Root is England’s No.1 batsman and Ben Stokes the most spectacular player, yet there are few better sights than watching Jonny Bairstow on the attack.

There are few better all-round cricketers in the world at the moment. Bairstow can prosper in all three forms of the game, and he is never more effective than when trying to assert himself against the bowlers.

To England’s concern, Bairstow appeared to twist his ankle when turning for a second run during his unbeaten 63 against South Africa on Sunday. They hoped it would not impede his wicketkeeping for the final session.

South Africa bowler Kagiso Rabada is quick and hostile. His short ball was enough to account for Keaton Jennings, who was caught at gully for 48. Yet Bairstow was too good even for him.

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England were seeking quick runs when Rabada unleashed a bouncer from the Pavilion End to Bairstow, who had 14. Bairstow not only evaded it, but angled his bat in a flash of a second to divert it over the head of wicketkeeper Quinton De Kock and to the fence for four.

Bairstow has played that stroke before, notably to win a Twenty20 international for England at Southampton in June. It requires bravery, skill and confidence in equal measure. It seems strange to think that before the 2015 Ashes, Bairstow appeared to have no route in the international side, with Jos Buttler the preferred wicketkeeper in all three forms.

Bairstow forced his way in through dedication, tenacity and talent. Buttler is an outstanding wicketkeeper-batsman in the shorter forms but it is hard to see how he will replace Bairstow in this side. The Yorkshire player’s glovework has improved in tandem with his batting.

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Bairstow’s reached his fifty at a run-a-ball helped bat South Africa out of the game. When Joe Root declared, England were 313 for eight in their second innings, leaving South Africa a world-record 492 to win. Realistically, that meant they would have to bat for a little more than four sessions to save the match.

The tourists’ bowlers laboured as England made runs comfortably. After Jennings was dismissed, Tom Westley and Root put 78 for the third wicket before Westley was stumped off Keshav Maharaj for 59 - a half-century on his Test debut.

In Maharaj’s next over, Root was caught at deep backward-square attempting a slog-sweep. He made 50. Dawid Malan, who made only one in the first innings, was lbw to Chris Morris on review for 10 – a more difficult debut than that of Westley.

Ben Stokes made a century in the first innings but could not find the same fluency this time. He departed for 31, clean bowled by Morris trying to push on the score. Moeen Ali was then run out for eight by a direct hit from Temba Bavuma and Toby Roland-Jones caught at long-on off Maharaj for 23, persuading Root to declare.

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