ENG vs NZ: England's Joe Root Describes Jonny Bairstow As 'Phenomenal' After England's Test Series Win Over NZ

England batsman Joe Root showered praise on his teammate after Jonny Bairstow’s “phenomenal” batting display helped the Three Lions secure the victory in the last Test against New Zealand.

England defeated the Kiwis by seven wickets on Monday at Headingley in Leeds thanks to big innings from Root (86*) and Bairstow (71*).

In the final Test, England did not get off to the best of starts. Chasing 296 runs, opener Alex Lees was run out for just 9 at the team’s score of 17. Ollie Pope and Zak Crawley continued to pursue England. After Crawley was caught by captain Kane Williamson and removed for 25 by spinner Michael Bracewell, their solid partnership was broken at 34 runs.

With England 185/3, Root and Jonny Bairstow were at the crease. Root kept one end stable while Bairstow kept going his blast run in the second innings, reaching his half-century in just 30 balls.

Root (86*) and Bairstow scored an explosive 71 off 44 balls to help their side win by seven wickets.

‘Jonny Bairstow is hitting the ball so well’: Root

England dominated the game. Though New Zealand set a challenging 296-run target, the English batsman reacted with some magnificent hitting, winning the game by seven wickets and the series by 3-0.

“It was like those 50-overs stuff we usually play, Bairstow is hitting the ball so well.” I am sure everyone had a good time. He is been a Phenomenal player for a long time. It is great to see him demonstrating his talent to the rest of the world. “Hopefully, he can continue on that path,” Root said after the final Test.

Bairstow made 394 runs off 328 balls this month, including 77 and 95-ball centuries at Trent Bridge and Headingley, respectively. He is the world’s leading Test cricket scorer this year with 774 runs, including four hundred, at an average of 64.50. He has the second-highest strike rate of any hitter who has scored more than 300 runs in a series against New Zealand (120.12) in Test history.

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