Centurion Jonny Bairstow might barely hold the grin off his face after spending some 5 hours on the crease for England below a blazing Caribbean solar on the primary day of the primary check towards West Indies on Tuesday.
In choosing up the place he left off two months in the past in Australia, Bairstow’s second century in as many Tests, an unbeaten 109 in Antigua, helped flip the match maybe barely in favour of the guests at stumps.
“I’m very enthusiastic about enjoying Test cricket. I’m completely delighted. It has been an excellent begin to the yr and hopefully, that may proceed,” he said.
In compiling his first century against West Indies, Bairstow was typically punishing of anything that strayed from a good line and length, though West Indies did not help their cause by conceding too many boundaries, allrounder Jason Holder said.
Holder was certainly not guilty of any profligacy, finishing the day with figures of 2-15 at an average of less than a run an over, but the same could not be said of his less consistent team mates, with 68 of Bairstow’s runs coming in boundaries.
“If I’m being overly critical, the only thing I’d pinpoint is the boundaries. The boundary count was pretty high,” Holder stated after England superior to 268 for six at stumps.
“Jonny performed rather well however I believe we might have been a little bit bit tighter when it comes to not permitting him to attain, significantly on each side.
“He (hit) the ball to the legside fairly nicely, drove the ball nicely, lower the ball nicely too.”
Fellow pace bowler Kemar Roach (2-71) acknowledged that the hosts had failed to press home their early advantage.
“The pitch played a lot better than we expected. We started well and I guess lost a little bit after lunch and after tea,” he stated, nonetheless expressing optimism for day two and past.
“I believe it’s an excellent pitch to bat on. Once the fellows get in, I believe we’ll do a unbelievable job of getting the lead.”
Bairstow for his part knows there is more work to be done on the second day.
“It will be a big morning session,” he stated.
“We wish to push on to 320-350. Anything from there’s a bonus from the beginning we had. If you look too far forward you possibly can in a short time come up quick.
“When we do come to bowl it’s about being affected person, making use of ourselves as a result of it’s going to be a bit attritional.”
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