Courtesy: Google
Jonny Bairstow, the England wicketkeeper batter, hasn’t played any international cricket for his country since the semi-final defeat against India in the T20 World Cup 2024 last summer. In his latest interview, when a journalist asked Jonny Bairstow about whether a return to the England cricket team is still realistic for him, he responded by saying that it would be stupid for him to think otherwise, especially since he is still contracted by the ECB.
Notably, Jonny Bairstow has a two-year contract with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), which is set to expire this October, as per the report published in ESPNcricinfo. It was last summer when Bairstow was left out of the England Test setup without playing a match at home after receiving his 100th cap against India in the fifth and final Test match of the series Dharamsala in March 2024.
The whole purpose of everything is to try and play for England: Jonny Bairstow
The 35-year-old has been ignored by the England management in limited-overs cricket since last June, favouring the likes of Phil Salt and Jamie Smith instead, with the latter holding the gloves in Test cricket as well. During his latest media appearance at Headingley as part of Yorkshire’s preseason media day, Jonny Bairstow didn’t answer whether there is any clarity from head coach Brendon McCullum or managing director Rob Key about a spot in the team for him.
At the same time, he didn’t rule out a potential return to the England cricket team, stating that he still has an ECB contract. Jonny Bairstow also said, “I'd be stupid not to (target a return). The whole purpose of everything is to try and play for England, and that will be the challenge for the whole group. Everyone wants to go on and do that.”
“As an 'exile' and someone who hasn't played for however long, it's something that of course you want to get back to. And that comes by scoring runs,” Bairstow added.
