"There's a reason why I'm in the team," Jonny Bairstow hits back at critics

Jonny Bairstow has not had much to do in the T20 World Cup, but when he got an opportunity on June 15 (Saturday), he grabbed it with both hands, smashing 31 off 18 against Namibia, which included a 56-run stand with Harry Brook for the third wicket. That was a crucial knock as England had lost both their openers in the first 13 balls of the innings.

Bairstow had scored just 64 runs in his previous four innings in T20 Internationals (T20I). He was under pressure to score big in the rain-curtailed game against Namibia in Antigua, and he responded in style. 

"Look, people are allowed to have opinions, and yeah, look, it's part and parcel of it. It's not the first time that people have had a go at me, is it? So yeah, you take it on the chin, and you crack on," Bairstow said in the post-match press conference. 

"But look, at the end of the day, there's a reason why I've played for so long, and there's a reason why I'm in the team. So maybe sometimes the opinions and the views that come through certain people's eyes are incorrect and maybe need to look at themselves."

Bairstow admits playing in all three formats is a challenge, but he considers himself fortunate to represent his country in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. "I'd like to be keeping wicket and batting in the Tests. That's exactly what I've wanted to do. I haven't spent much time thinking about it," Bairstow said. 

"The games have been coming thick and fast. I think I've had about five nights at home since January 11th, when we left. So, it’s something that you just keep playing, you keep trying to learn, you keep enjoying the experiences and the challenges that get put in front of you. And I think that that's the important bit. 

"When you are on tour and when you're fortunate enough to play in the different formats and the different countries that you have around the world, the willingness and the enjoyment and the challenges you've got to accept and sometimes overcome them and look at times it does get difficult. 

"At times, it is hard to adapt from format to format, and it does take a little bit of change, but look, it's something that I've done for all my career, and I wouldn't change anything of it to be quite honest with you because to be fortunate enough to play in all three formats for England it's something that I'm very very proud of."

With this win and Scotland's loss to Australia, England are through to the Super Eights. They will take on West Indies in their first match of the next round on June 19 (Wednesday) in St Lucia.

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