England star 'delighted' to reach 100 wicketkeeping dismissals
Saturday 5 August 2017 22:00, UK
Jonny Bairstow reflected on a day of mixed emotions as he fell for 99 but claimed his 100th wicketkeeping dismissal on day two of the fourth Test against South Africa at Old Trafford.
Bairstow was last man out as England posted 362, trapped lbw by Proteas spinner Keshav Maharaj one run shy of a fourth Test century.
However, he secured a ton with the gloves when he snaffled Hashim Amla down the leg side off Toby Roland-Jones, a 95th catch adding to five stumpings.
"There are a few expletives I am not allowed to say!" Bairstow told Sky Sports about missing out on a hundred. "I am delighted to get 99 but desperately disappointed at the same time.
"It's twice now I have got out in the nineties against South Africa but if you had said I would have got 99 last night when I was out for dinner with the family, I would have snapped your hand off."
Bairstow has batted at No 7 in the last two Tests with Middlesex's Dawid Malan coming into the side as a specialist batsman at No 5.
"Batting at five you can be in fairly soon if the wicket has a bit in it early on," said Bairstow. "Batting at seven you get a chance to assess the wicket and have a platform to see how you can influence the game best.
"I don't mind where I bat, that's something I have said many times, and I am just pleased to be scoring runs and hopefully putting us in a position where we can win the series.
Bairstow extended his number of wicketkeeping dismissals to 101 when he caught Quinton de Kock off Stuart Broad and expressed his glee at reaching three figures after a tough baptism with the gloves.
"I am absolutely delighted," added the Yorkshireman.
"You go back to Australia when I first kept wicket when I hadn't even kept a full first-class season with Yorkshire and it was pretty tough - getting criticised in an area of work you haven't necessarily been put through your paces at at county level.
"When you do get these rewards from working hard, looking at yourself and finding a way that works for you, it can be really rewarding. "
Live coverage of the fourth Test between England and South Africa continues on Sky Sports Cricket - with over-by-over commentary and in-play clips on our live match blog - from 10am on Sunday.
