In his first column for Sky Sports, England's Jonny Bairstow talks Headingley, Sri Lanka, batting with Joe Root and his 1990s hero…
Hi Jonny. How excited are you to be gearing up for just your second Test match at Headingley?
Coming back home is obviously very special as Headingley has a big place in my heart, as it does for every Yorkshireman.
The fact there has been a little lay-off - my only other Test at the ground came three years ago against New Zealand - makes it even more exciting, so hopefully the weather holds!
I scored 64 in that game versus New Zealand, while Joe Root and Alastair Cook got hundreds as we won by 247 runs, but what I remember most is how electric the crowd was and I'm expecting something similar this week.
I've hit the ground running this season, particularly at Headingley, scoring 246 against Hampshire and 198 against Surrey, but the Test pitch will be different to the county ones.
Everyone wants to be there at the Test for high-scoring days but also some entertainment with the ball, so I'm sure we will get both.
How was your winter and what did you make of England's World T20 campaign?
I had a bit of time off and away from cricket to recharge my batteries, which is really important, but watching the England lads in the World T20 was fantastic.
I don't think most people expected us to go that far but to reach the final playing the way we did was an exceptional effort.
It's got me itching to get that England jersey back on - not that you need any extra motivation to get up for the first Test of the summer on your home ground!
I was pleased with the way I contributed in the series win over South Africa, in which I scored my maiden Test hundred, even though I still have things to work on and develop. It was a great way to finish the year and I am looking to keep on progressing.
If you beat Sri Lanka and Pakistan, you will achieve something pretty special…
If we win we will hold all nine of the Test series trophies - something I was made aware of moments before doing this column! It's not something we have spoken about in the dressing room, as our focus is purely on winning matches.
Sri Lanka beat us here two years ago, while we know the quality Pakistan bring, so it's going to be a tough summer of cricket ahead. People have made us favourites to defeat Sri Lanka but we know the threats that they pose, so we won't be taking anything for granted.
Mahela Jayawardene will be with Sky Sports for the series and I'm sure he and Kumar Sangakkara, who is playing for Surrey, will be passing down fonts of knowledge to the Sri Lankan players, so we know we are in for a real battle.
Joe Root has been in outstanding form recently - did you always expect him to hit these heights?
Joe was only small when he was young so everyone was hoping he grew for a start! Seriously, though, we always knew he was a real talent.
He has been fantastic over recent years - you only have to look at the stats and the way he has gone about his business - and hopefully he and I can spend a lot of time in the middle together, not only this summer but for many years to come.
Having batted with him since we were about 12, out partnership is a pretty natural one now, it's not something we have to think about or plan too much. We know how the other one operates, how they run and the abilities they possess, so it's great to be in the middle at the same time.
He's also not bad with the ball as he showed when he bowled out Stokesy [Ben Stokes] in Carnaby Street recently!
Finally, Sky Sports' England in the 90s documentary has just been released. Who was your cricketing hero during that decade?
Definitely Alec Stewart. The amount of games he played was sensational and to play for the length of time he did and achieve what he did made me really look up to him. If I have a career like his it won't be too shabby, and to try and emulate someone like him would be very special.
It always looked like the guys in the England team in the 1990s had fun and that is something we are trying to foster, too. You have enough tough times in the game and in life so you have to enjoy the good times as a group. Teams don't function as well if you don't have that rapport.
Watch England and Sri Lanka's first Test, at Headingley, from 10am, Thursday, Sky Sports 2. Or watch from £6.99 without a contract, on NOW TV.