IND vs ENG: "We Trust Each Other's Games Now To Just Go And Play" - Jonny Bairstow On His On-field Chemistry With Ben Stokes

Jonny Bairstow, an English batsman, recently discussed what it’s like to bat with Ben Stokes in the middle. With Bairstow playing a significant part, the newly chosen Test captain guided the team to a spectacular 3-0 whitewash over New Zealand.

After making their Test cricket debuts one year apart, Bairstow and Stokes have gone on to establish themselves as middle order staples over the past ten years. Their jobs are now more clear-cut and important than ever, with batting statistics that uncannily resemble one another.

The two were at the centre of things during their recent series victory against the Black Caps, playing an important role in Brendon McCullum’s approach.

Jonny Bairstow Speaks On His Chemistry With Ben Stokes In The Middle

In an interview with Nasser Hussain for the Daily Mail, Bairstow stated that they currently trust each other’s games:

“We’ve done it for quite a few years, haven’t we? There actually wasn’t that much said between us in the middle. We trust each other’s games now to just go and play, which is a really good thing to have. You don’t need to be saying things all the time.”

When Ben Stokes scored his illustrious 258 against South Africa, Bairstow was at the other end. In Cape Town six years ago, the wicketkeeper-batter and the all-rounder put up 399 for the sixth wicket as the latter scored his long-awaited first century.

Jonny Bairstow Hails Skipper Ben Stokes

Following consecutive series losses to Australia and the West Indies, Joe Root resigned, and Ben Stokes was immediately made captain. The all-around player has been quite transparent about his goals so far.

Zak Crawley and Alex Lees, the opening pair, now have more confidence thanks to him. Joe Root has also been reinstated at No. 4, while Stuart Broad and James Anderson, the senior combination, have returned.

The argument that Stokes will succeed in the job is that he has experience both on and off the field, the wicketkeeper said:

“He’s been really good. Tactically very good on the field, and off it he’s been clear what he wants from the guys. He hadn’t done an awful lot of captaincy before taking over but he’s had a lot of experiences, both on and off the field, that he’s been able to bring together in order to lead this side.”

The visiting Indian team will present Ben Stokes with yet another obstacle. The fifth Test match, which was postponed, will pit the two sides against one another and will begin later today (July 1) in Edgbaston, Birmingham.

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