ENG vs NZ: Jonny Bairstow's 'Phenomenal' Run Of Form Impresses Ben Stokes

After Jonny Bairstow’s unbeaten 71 off 44 balls helped England defeat New Zealand by seven wickets on the last day in Leeds, Ben Stokes felt “wow” was the only word that describes his recent form.

With 774 runs, including four hundred, at an average of 64.50 this year in Test cricket, Bairstow is the best scorer in the world.

After England had fallen to 21 for 4 and then 55 for 6, Stokes claimed that Bairstow’s first-century hundred was “even better” than his innings during the run chase at Trent Bridge. “It was quite special to follow up that magnificent knock at Trent Bridge with the effort in both innings this week,” he remarked.

“It was great to see the Trent Bridge innings. However, in my opinion, the hundred in the opening innings was much better than it was the week before. The situation he found himself in at 55 for 6 and continuing to play while still managing to score a hundred runs at more than a run per ball is something very, very extraordinary and should never be disregarded.”

‘Jonny Bairstow knows exactly what he’s doing’: Ben Stokes

Stokes stated that his objective with Bairstow was to help him become “comfortable” in his position as the team’s No. 5 aggressive middle-order batter. In the white-ball squad, Stokes said, “just take him to the role: he is very clear, very particular, and he knows exactly what he is doing every time he comes out to play.”

“Jonny has been successful in doing this with the white-ball group because he knows what he is expected to accomplish and how he wants to play. He is acting as though he is wearing colors. He is simply “wow.” I can explain his current playing style in this way. It is simply amazing.”

Jonny Bairstow made 394 runs off 328 balls, including centuries of 77 and 95 balls at Trent Bridge and Headingley, “respectively. He had the second-highest strike rate (120.12) in Test history for a hitter who scored more than 300 runs in a series against New Zealand.

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