Thursday 6 April 2017 07:31, UK
How do you possibly top 2016 if your name is Jonny Bairstow?
The England batsman scored a maiden Test century - following it up with two more - on his way to 1,470 Test runs in a calendar year, a record for any wicketkeeper.
It's the sort of success that can weigh heavily around the neck of some, unable to live up to the resulting raised expectations, not that Bairstow seems fazed ahead of the start of the new season with Yorkshire.
"The pressure is not something you really think about," he says, speaking to Sky Sports at a NatWest CricketForce event. "My game feels in a good place, but if I go into the season and don't get any runs in the first couple of knocks, then so be it. It won't change my mindset."
Those first couple of knocks will have to wait, for now. While Yorkshire's attempt to wrestle back the County Championship crown they relinquished for the first time in three years last season begins with a trip to Hampshire on Friday, Bairstow won't be there.
The England batsman has been afforded some time off after lengthy, and at times treacherous, Test tours of Bangladesh and India, and thanks to his misfortune at missing out on an IPL deal.
"If something had come along with the IPL, then great," Bairstow says philosophically. "But it didn't. That's that and so I've moved on.
"I'll be tuning into bits of it, for sure. It's a terrific spectacle and I'll be keen to see all the England lads over there go well. I'm sure they will.
"I've been taking some time away from cricket - I'm actually travelling out to Augusta for The Masters this week - but then it will be full focus on the season ahead."
While much of Bairstow's focus will be afforded to the start of the county season with Yorkshire, he also has more than half an eye on winning a place in England's ICC Champions Trophy squad, and more ambitiously, the starting XI.
Bairstow wasn't required in the ODI side's recent 3-0 whitewash success in the West Indies, but there were whispers of perhaps being used as an opener in Alex Hales' initial absence, having impressed there in a warm-up win.
Hales tonked a ton on his return in the final game of the tour, but Bairstow may be afforded an opportunity to impress in May's two matches against Ireland due to the IPL absences of some of England's other big-hitters.
"You want to be playing," adds Bairstow. "So if the opportunity comes, naturally I want to take it.
"I don't mind where I bat, I just want to be involved, particularly in an international competition.
"We firmly believe we've got a really good chance of doing well. We know how tough it is going to be, but at the same time, if you don't go into a tournament believing you're going to win, then there's no point entering."
Bairstow is also hopeful of more silverware with Yorkshire in 2017, though is under no illusion of how much tougher the competition will be in a now just eight-team Championship, two of which will be relegated.
Though his involvement due to England commitments is likely to be sporadic, the White Rose county will be hopeful of similarly significant contributions from Bairstow to those of the previous two years in particular, when he is available.
Bairstow tonked two tons - including a first-class best of 246 against Hampshire - in his four appearances in 2016, while his 1,108 runs at a staggering 92.33 average over nine games of their 2015 title-winning campaign earned him his much-sought-after England recall.
"We know it's going to be a tough season," says Bairstow. "It is set to be more competitive than ever.
"There's competition for places in the team, and competition for points in the Championship.
"To get so close to winning it for a third time running last year, then to not quite get over the line, was absolutely gutting, but we've also got to look at the positives and take that into this season.
"We know what it feels like to win it, and to miss out, and so know which is the much better feeling."
Possibly counting against Yorkshire's return to the top is the departure of heralded head coach, Jason Gillespie, who oversaw those back-to-back triumphs in 2014 and 2015.
Respected former club captain, but coaching rookie, Andrew Gale, takes over the reins, while there is also concern over the financial future of the club and its Headingley ground.
But, Bairstow believes the many experienced heads in the squad - including the likes of the retiring-at-the-end-of-the-season Ryan Sidebottom - can help navigate the team through such uncertainty.
"We're going into a transitional phase that naturally might take a bit of time," admits Bairstow. "But, at the same token, Galey has been a hugely successfully captain for a period of time - he knows how the club operates and how the lads work.
"Also, you only have to look at the experience we have in the likes of Joe Root, Tim Bresnan, Liam Plunkett, Steven Patterson, Ryan Sidebottom. The list goes on.
"Ryan in particular is a very close friend of mine. I'm godfather to his little one, and his dad played for Yorkshire with my dad, so it's great to be a part of his last season.
"He's had such an illustrious career, and I'm sure he will be wanting to go out this year on a high.
"Having that wealth of knowledge for Galey, and Gary Ballance as captain, to be able to bounce off can only be a good thing."
It's something that Bairstow believes Root will similarly be able to benefit from when his Yorkshire team-mate leads England out in Tests for the first time this summer after succeeding Alastair Cook.
"It's a fantastic honour for Rooty," added Bairstow. "I think he'll go really well.
"He has the respect of all of the lads, and will also benefit from a lot of experienced people - Alastair Cook, Stuart Broad, James Anderson etc - surrounding him.
"I have no doubt it will be a seamless transition."
Bairstow and Yorkshire will be hoping for similar after the coaching and captaincy change at Headingley when the county season starts on Friday.
Jonny Bairstow was speaking during NatWest CricketForce at Denby Cricket Club. Now in its 17th year, NatWest CricketForce has grown into one of the largest sports volunteering initiatives in the UK, with over 2,200 local clubs registering this year. Find out more at natwest.com/cricket
