Bairstow achieves landmark Lord's ambition
Jonny Bairstow ticked off another of his career targets by scoring a Test century at Lord's.
LONDON (AFP) - England s Jonny Bairstow ticked off another of his career targets by scoring a Test century at Lord s on Thursday.
The Yorkshire wicket-keeper/batsman s unbeaten 107 was the cornerstone of England s 279 for six on the first day of the third Test against Sri Lanka.
Prior to the start of the series, Bairstow -- the son of the late former Yorkshire and England keeper David Bairstow -- said two of his bucket list targets were to score Test centuries at his Headingley home ground and Lord s.
And now he has realised both dreams within a month.
"It s been an amazing few weeks," said Bairstow.
At Headingley, Bairstow revived England from the depths of 83 for five in the first Test with a superb 140 in a match England eventually won by an innings and 88 runs,
With England already 2-0 up in the three-match series, Bairstow walked out to bat on Thursday in another difficult situation at 84 for four.
Dropped on 70 at Headingley, Bairstow was missed on 11 at Lord s when Shaminda Eranga floored a routine catch at mid-wicket.
He also survived a reviewed lbw appeal on 56.
For Bairstow there was added satisfaction Thursday in that he had finally nailed down a place on the Lord s dressing room honours board, having come agonisingly close with 95 in a Test at the home of cricket against South Africa shortly after the 2012 London Olympics.
"It was five runs that loomed over me for a few years, and many people speculated about can he, can t he?," said Bairstow.
"It s nice to kind of put the record straight a little bit.
"I hope now it s not the only time I can get on the board."
Bairstow, asked to compare his two centuries against Sri Lanka, added: "That hundred at Headingley is one at your home ground, where you ve grown up -- very, very special in my heart.
"My dad play there for so many years, my mum works there (on Yorkshire s administration staff), and I ve played there now too -- having been an Under-11 as a Yorkshire boy and come all the way through.
"At Lord s, it s a completely different atmosphere ... (and) at the same time a superbly special place to play cricket."
Bairstow s career went into something of a dip after his 95 and it wasn t until January that the 26-year-old scored the first of his three Test centuries.
"There s been a lot of talk about my technique over however many years, but at the moment I m pleased with the way I m striking the ball and moving," said Bairstow.
The worth of his runs will only become apparent when Sri Lanka, who produced a Jekyll and Hyde performance in making 101 and 475 during a nine-wicket defeat in the second Test at the Riverside, bat at Lord s.
Sri Lanka left-arm spinner Rangana Herath, who took a commendable two for 45 in 21 overs on Thursday, said: "We need to bat well in our first innings. Our batting in the first innings has been disappointing.
"We need to do the (basic) disciplines right."
