"You can look at it both ways and say it was a fantastic recovery to get 400 on the board after being 131-4, or you can look at it and say we have let the position slip."
Thursday 7 November 2019 13:39, UK
Jonny Bairstow says his 119 against Australia in Perth was his "favourite" of his four Test centuries for England to date.
Bairstow secured his maiden Ashes ton while putting on 237 with Dawid Malan (140) for the fifth wicket, the Yorkshireman adding to the hundreds he hit in Cape Town, Lord's and on his home ground of Headingley in 2016.
The 28-year-old headbutted his helmet after reaching three figures in a playful reference to the 'headbutt" he greeted Australia opener Cameron Bancroft with in a bar at the start of England's tour.
"The hundred, in many ways, was my favourite," said Bairstow, who scored his first century against Australia in his 20th innings against them, beating the 74 he struck at Trent Bridge in 2015.
"To score an Ashes hundred is something you dream about as a kid and it has eluded me until now.
"There was a whole heap of emotions that came running through - and [the celebration] was a bit of light-hearted fun after everything that has gone on. That's exactly how it should be taken."
Bairstow and Malan's stand came to an end with England on 368 when the latter was dismissed by Nathan Lyon and the tourists went on to lose their last six wickets for 35 runs to be bowled out for 403.
Steve Smith's unbeaten 92 and a half-century from Usman Khawaja helped Australia to 203-3 by stumps, but Bairstow has backed England's attack to make early inroads on day three at the WACA.
"We have the capabilities of taking five or six wickets in a session - we have shown that previously and there is no reason we can't do it again," he said. "Our boys have got the skills to get 20 wickets in this Test match."
On England's total, Bairstow added: "You can look at it both ways and say it was a fantastic recovery to get 400 on the board after being 131-4, or you can look at it and say we have let the position slip."
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