Wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow is eager to regain his place in the England cricket team after being absent for nine months. The 35-year-old believes it would be “stupid” not to push for a comeback, especially since he’s still under contract with the team. Also, he’s not a part of the IPL 2025 as well. Despite scoring a century for the Punjab Kings and bringing the historic chase against KKR, his efforts failed to impress any buyers.
Reflecting on his absence
Bairstow’s last outing in an England jersey was during the T20 World Cup 2024 semi-final against India, where England faced a tough defeat. Following that, he was dropped from the Test side amid a restructuring of the red-ball squad after England’s 4-1 series loss to India. Although he reached his 100th Test cap in Dharamshala, he found himself out of the team as England explored other wicketkeeping options, such as Jamie Smith and Jordan Cox, who was later replaced by Ollie Pope due to injury.
Determined to make a comeback
Despite being sidelined, Bairstow remains determined to return to the national team. He expressed his commitment to playing for England, saying, “Yes, because I’m still contracted. I’d be stupid not to. The whole purpose of everything is to try and play for England, and that will be the challenge for the whole group.” His central contract is set to expire this October, but Bairstow is focused on proving his worth by performing well with Yorkshire, where he is starting the summer season.
The path ahead
Bairstow acknowledges that decisions regarding team selection are beyond his control. He noted, “Not my fault I got given a two-year contract, just to stay at the periphery… It’s not my choice. I can load the gun, but I won’t be the one pulling the trigger.” His situation highlights the competitive nature of team selections, but his determination and efforts with Yorkshire serve as a reminder of his readiness to contribute to England’s cricketing success again.
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