Jonny Bairstow chooses World Cup glory over regaining Ashes
Bairstow, a key fixture across formats for England, was quizzed by Sky Sports Cricketover which he'd like to win this summer if he could pick just one – the World Cup or the Ashes?
For Bairstow, the chance of lifting a trophy which England have never lifted is one too good to turn down.
"I am going World Cup because it's been so long since we've had an opportunity to win one," Bairstow said.
"It's really pleasing to be two from two" – @root66 is delighted at England’s winning start ahead of an action-packed English summer.https://t.co/Xu2OzMvwIi
— ICC (@ICC) May 7, 2019
"I think that the amount of work that has gone into this group of players over the last couple of years, building and building, I firmly believe we've put an amount of effort in that gives us the best chance.
"Guys have worked day in, day out, taking their games to places that they weren't at 18 months, two years ago.
"That's from the vision Morgs [Eoin Morgan] has had and the way we are playing our one-day cricket."
Warner and Bairstow, who've had their issues in the past in Australia v England games, have teamed up for a fantastic partnership in #IPL2019. And @Eoin16 sees a similarity to Rooney and Ronaldo. https://t.co/7QeYI9ciIL
— ICC (@ICC) April 5, 2019
Bairstow has been a solid presence at the top of England's order in ODI cricket over the last two years and boasts an impressive career record. In 59 ODIs, he averages 46.04 and has six centuries to his name. The batsman displayed his white-ball talents further in the IPL this season for Sunrisers Hyderabad, even hitting his second T20 hundred, amassing 114 against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
The 29-year-old praised the tournament, saying: "You go to the IPL to develop your skills, to put them up against the best in the world," added Bairstow.
"We saw Jos (Buttler) coming back into the Test side last summer after a brilliant IPL. The competition over there can only improve your skills."