'I'm still working hard on my keeping' - Bairstow
An ankle injury prior to the Test series saw Bairstow ruled out of the first Test, with Ben Foakes taking keeping duties. A debut hundred and excellent performance with the gloves saw Foakes retain his spot at the expense of the fit-again Bairstow for the second Test.
However, with Sam Curran picking up a side strain, Bairstow was selected for the third Test in the unfamiliar position of three in the batting order, and delivered with a brilliant 110 to anchor England on the opening day of the match.
A Jonny Bairstow hundred put England in a strong position at the end of the first day on a turning pitch in Colombo.
— ICC (@ICC) November 23, 2018
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Nevertheless, Bairstow insists that he isn’t ready to dedicate his sole focus to batting.
“I've not given up my keeping, I want to make that very, very clear. I'm still working hard on my keeping because it's something I still want to do,” Bairstow told Sky Sportsafter play on day one.
“I've worked hard for the last nine years so I'm not going to give it up after one or two games that you miss. It's fantastic to have the challenges ahead, and I'm happy with my start.”
Bairstow’s century came after England lost their openers cheaply, and he battled against cramp during his first innings for England since the ODI series against Sri Lanka in mid-October. The England ODI opener was forthright in outlining the effort he had put in behind the scenes in returning from his ankle injury so quickly.
"I'm proud as punch of the work I've done because that injury should potentially have set me back for six to eight weeks, but I'm back in four and playing in a Test match.
England’s new No 3, who let out an almighty roar upon reaching his sixth Test hundred, was pleased to show his adaptability in batting in a new position.
"You've got to deliver when you're asked to. When you're left out of the side, and you haven't actually done too much wrong over the last couple of years, and all of the sudden you're asked to bat in a role where you've not batted before, you learn on the job. That's how I've seen it, an opportunity to learn on the job."
England will resume play on day two on 312/7.