ENG vs NZ: Jonny Bairstow Desperate To Join Brendon McCullum’s England Revolution

England starts off their international summer against New Zealand on Thursday, with as of late named head coach Brendon McCullum and skipper Ben Stokes in charge for their respective debut as England coach and skipper.

Jonny Bairstow was close by to partake in the pair’s first training session on Monday, simply seven days in the wake of getting back from his IPL stretch with Punjab Kings.

Playing Test Cricket For England Is Something I Want To Do: Jonny Bairstow

It has been a tiring timetable for the Yorkshireman, who has likewise contested a T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates, played in the Ashes in Australia, and visited the West Indies since last playing on home soil, however, having some time off was never part of his plans.

“I don’t want a rest. That hadn’t even come into my mind. I’ve never been one for resting when there’s opportunities to play for England,” he said.

“Playing Test cricket is something I want to do. People know my desire to play for England, to play Test cricket. Lord’s is a fantastic place for us to be to start the new journey and it should be great fun.

“It’s exciting to be back here, hopefully with a full crowd, and come Thursday it’ll hopefully be fizzing.”

Always Wanted To Work With Brendon McCullum: Jonny Bairstow

While Stokes’ advancement simply enhances the influential position Jonny Bairstow previously had as Joe Root’s vice-captain and the dressing room talisman, the inclusion of McCullum addresses a huge infusion of new blood, a new perspective, and crisp reasoning to a side who has won only once in their last 17 games.

McCullum has never coached at a first-class level before, yet was an extraordinary captain for New Zealand during his own playing days. As an attacking wicketkeeper batter who moved between formats consistently, he was likewise an immediate motivation for Jonny Bairstow.

“Baz is someone I’ve always wanted to work with. He’s someone I’ve played against and grown up watching and was very intrigued by,” he said.

“When I started my career, he was someone who was unbelievable at what he did. So I’ll definitely be trying to pick his brains on a few bits but at the same time going out and playing my game and my way and adapting along the way, too.

“Everyone is really excited by it because his cricket was unique. He played an exciting brand of cricket that everyone wanted to watch and everyone within the stands was intrigued by what the outcome would be when he was in the middle.”

Fine knocks in Sydney and Antigua made Jonny Bairstow the first Englishman to score two Test hundreds in their winless winter out and about, passing on him with enough credit in the bank to take the number five spot in front of in-for county teammate Harry Brook.

Playing For England Would Mean Everything To Me: Matthew Potts

The other new face at nets, Durham seamer Matthew Potts, seems to get an opportunity of making his presentation and turned in a strong showing in practice.

He has taken 35 county wickets in six matches this season, including four five-fors en route, and feels prepared to make the move forward.

“It would mean everything to me. This wasn’t at all on the radar at the start of the year so it would be a great moment for me and the family – the pinnacle of cricket at the home of cricket,” Potts said.

“Who wouldn’t want to come down and be involved with these guys? You are playing with some absolute legends of the game like Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad, running in taking poles.

“I’ve spoken to Jimmy quite a bit, he’s been really welcoming. All the boys are nice fellas and we have a really good team environment with the new coaches and new captain – I think it is a really nice place to be.

“But it is the same game – you run in and bowl with a red ball, you bowl at a batsman. I am not going to change anything about my game. We’ll see how it reacts to the pressure but I am just going to go in and do my thing if I get the nod.”

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