'I learned about myself when I was dropped from the team'
Monday 13 June 2016 21:14, UK
Jonny Bairstow says he was determined to prove the doubters wrong after being dropped from the England team.
Bairstow returned to Test action last summer thanks to a stunning run of form with the bat that has continued through to 2016, winning the player of the series award after England beat Sri Lanka 2-0.
The Yorkshireman hit his second and third Test centuries for England in the series, including an unbeaten 167 in the drawn third Test at Lord's.
"It's never nice being dropped but that really spurred me on to try and get back in the side and to prove a point," said Bairstow.
"The people that say you aren't good enough, you want to show them that actually you are. I think I did that in the series in South Africa and now here.
"I went away and learned more about myself so that when I did come back into the team, I could contribute in every way possible.
"To try and hit the ground running at the start of the season was the aim, so I'm really pleased to back up the form I've shown for Yorkshire in an England shirt."
Bairstow has contributed too with the gloves, taking 19 catches behind the stumps, with James Anderson and Stuart Broad the main beneficiaries with a combined 33 wickets in the series.
"It's a pleasure to keep to Jimmy and Broady," added Bairstow. "The show skills all the time, whether the pitch is seaming around or it's a flat one.
"I was disappointed to drop a couple, but also to get 19 catches in the series was really pleasing. Moving forward, the hard work continues as always."
Next up for Bairstow is another meeting with Sri Lanka, having been recalled to England's one-day squads for the ODI series and T20I against the tourists.
"I'm delighted to be back in the one-day squads," said Bairstow. "I wanted to get back in and contribute as I feel like I'm striking the ball well and the other times I have been in the squad I feel I have did okay.
"Hopefully I get an opportunity against Sri Lanka in the forthcoming series, and we can go out there and put on a show like the boys did during the winter and last summer."
