There is a well known phrase in cricket; A strong Yorkshire means a strong England. During the ongoing Ashes tour, it certainly rings true with four White Rose players on the trip.
It is looking likely that two of them will play in next Thursday’s first Test at Brisbane, with Joe Root inked in at number six and Jonny Bairstow on standby as wicketkeeper should Matt Prior not recover from a low-grade left calf tear.
You could be off to the SCG courtesy of All Rounder Cricket. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
It would be a big moment for 24-year-old Bairstow, who has yet to grab Test cricket by the scruff of the neck with only four fifties in 12 matches so far.
But a former team-mate of his, Chris Taylor, has backed him to shine if he is called upon.
Taylor told the York Press, the local newspaper in Bairstow’s home city: “It’s funny how cricket can go at times. Opportunity and luck can play such a big part.
“I was speaking to someone only last Friday night and said ‘Jonny won’t play at all in this Ashes series. He’s there as second reserve batsman, and he’s almost got a free holiday to Australia in many ways’.
“All of a sudden there’s an injury, and he’s likely to play in the first Test. Now he could score a hundred at Brisbane, which would make it hard for them to leave him out as a specialist batsman when Matt comes back.
“The way Jonny plays, he’s always going to have lulls in his career because he’s a naturally aggressive batsman,” continued Taylor. “He goes after a lot of balls. When you do that, there’s going to be a time almost when your luck runs out.
“But he’s still only 24. To expect him to go into Test cricket and perform consistently straightaway was always unrealistic.
“He’s such a dedicated and determined cricketer, so I fully expect him to come through and be a star. He hasn’t got a Test century, but that’s just around the corner. You don’t play some of the innings he’s done for Yorkshire unless you’ve got it.”
Taylor, a former batsman with Yorkshire and Derbyshire, now runs a cricket equipment store called All Rounder Cricket directly opposite the ground at Headingley.
His business is running a competition for two UK residents to win a return trip to Sydney for ten days over New Year, which includes return flights, hotels and tickets to all days of the fifth Ashes Test at the SCG. It is a prize worth £7,000. To enter visit www.allroundercricket.com
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